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HISTORY OF THP] LIFE 



WILLIAM GILPIN 



A CHARACTER STUDY 



BY 

HUBERT HOWE BANXROFT 



[From Chronicles of the Kings] 



SAN FRANCISCO 
THE HISTORY COMPANY, PCTBLISHERS 

1889 



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HISTORY OF THE LIFE 

OF 

WILLIAM GILPIJ^ 



A Modern Plato and a Modern Athens — Ancestry — Environment Ex- 
traordinary — West Point — Visit to England — Army os" the West 
— Florida War — Expedition to Oregon — Exploration in Colorado 
—In the Mexican War — Indian Wars — Governor of Colorado- 
Vicissitudes OF Later Life — Visit to California — Land Operations 
— Character. 

Plato, ill the universality of his genius, appears to 
every age and every individual as of his own time and 
place. He had so absorbed all knowledge that in the 
annals of men one epoch was the same to him as an- 
other. All that the world before him had known he 
knew. He went to Italy to hear Pythagoras, but left 
more than he broiiglit away ; and but for the prema- 
ture hemlock he would have been teaching his master 
Socrates. Nor was the past alone open to him ; he 
made the present and the future his own. His genius 
swept over all the earth, penetrated the eternal hills, 
and pla^^ed with the stars. All science, all philosophy, 
all history were his. 

We have as yet no American Athens, though there 
have been pretensions advanced in that direction; if 
located in the heart of the continent, Denver might 
present strong claims to the distinction. 

High in the heavens she stands, with many an 
Olympus near; there are men of taste and learning 
within her borders, and her temples and schools are 
surpassed by none. Moreover she has her Plato, the 
fiist of philosophers and the first of men; him whose 
thoughts fly in air, preferring symbol to syllogism; 
(I) 



2 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

who if he needs a religion makes one, or if a govern- 
ment, formulates one; who if he lacks incident, falls 
back on inspiration, having always at hand that phil- 
osophy of philosophies which makes men and nature 
its own. 

Few of those whose forefathers came to America 
can boast of a more worshipful ancestry than William 
Gilpin, scholar, soldier, and sometime governor of 
Colorado. 

For his devotion to Richard Coeur de Leon, whom 
at Austria on returning from his first crusade King- 
John would have caused to be murdered, and for slay- 
ing a wild boar which infested the forests of West- 
moreland and Cumberland, the baron of Kendal, in 
1206, gave the manor of Kentmere to Richard de 
Guylpyn, a substantial commoner, whose original had 
come in with William the Conquerer. The earl of 
Kendal, who commanded at this most highly devel- 
oped part of the old Roman colony, could not read or 
write; wherefore, on attending tlie convention which 
on the little island of Runymede in the Thames wrung 
from Kino- John the maof-na charta, he took with him 
Guylpyn as his scholar, for which service, as well as 
for his other achievements, he was knighted. 

Several Richards follow; and to the grandson of 
Sir Richard de Guylpyn, in 1268, in the time of 
Henry III., Peter de Bruys, who married a co-heiress 
of William de Lancaster, gave the manor of Ulwith- 
waite, so that the family had indeed vast possessions. 
Many have taken the grandson of Richard de Guylpyn 
of 1268, who was owner of the manors of Kentmere 
and Ulwithwaite, to be the first of the name. In the 
reign of Richard III. comes another Richard Gilpin, 
whose son William was slain in the battle of Bos- 
worthfield, in 1485, during the civil wars of the houses 
of York and Lancaster, his brother Edwin thus becom- 
ing heir. George, the son of Edwin, was minister 
plenipotentiary for Queen Elizabeth at the Hague, 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 3 

and was also eminent in letters. Another son of Eel- 
win, Bernard Gilpin, called the Apostle of the North, 
was a very distinguished man. He was born at Kent- 
uiere in 1517, and died in 1583. Brought up a Roman 
catholic, he was made rector of Houghton ; but before 
the death of Queen Mary he became satisfied with 
the doctrines of the Reformation. 

Armored in the faith, midst the incessant strife of 
the time, he passed scathless. Once on entering 
Rothbury church, in Northumberland, he observed 
a glove suspended in a conspicuous place as a chal- 
lenge from some horse-trooper of the district. Taking- 
it down he entered the pulpit and began to preach. 
During the course of his sermon he paused, and, lift- 
ing the glove in his fingers, said : "I hear there is one 
among you who has even in this sacred place hung up 
a glove in defiance." Then flinging it to the floor, he 
continued, " I challenge him to compete with me in 
acts of Christian charity." 

A charge of thirteen articles was drawn up against 
him, and complaint laid before the bishop of London, 
whereupon he prepared for martyrdom. One doctrine 
which he preached was that whatever happened was 
for the best. On his way to London he fell from his 
horse and broke his leg. The guard sneeringly in- 
quired of him, "Call you this' for the best'^' "I 
doubt not it will so turn out," was the reply. He 
was taken to the Tower, there to await recovery from 
the accident. Mary meanwhile died, and he was set 
at liberty, whereupon he returned to Houghton. He 
was then offered by Elizabeth the See of Carlisle, which 
he declined, preferring to preach the Reformation and 
endow schools. Whenever he met a poor boy on the 
road he would put questions to him to test his natural 
ability, and if pleased therewith would provide for his 
education. A life of Bernard Gilpin, by William Gil- 
pin, prebendary of Salisbury, was published, first in 
1753, and again at Glasgow in 1824, in which are 
delineated his virtues and persecutions. 



4 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

The Gilpin family had frequently to suffer on ac- 
count of their religion. 

"The race that once went bravely forth 
To slay the wild boar in his den, 
Now meets the bigots in their wrath, 
And boldly claims the rights of men." 

Next we have a William Gilpin who married Eliza 
Washington, sister to our American Washington's 
great grandmother. They had a son George who 
inherited the manor of Kentmere, two generations 
after whom the estate was lost during the parliamen- 
tary civil wars. Sawry Gilpin was a celebrated 
painter of horses, giving them a very fierce expression; 
he was born in 1733. 

When Cromwell established the commonwealth of 
England and became the protector, Thomas Gilpin 
commanded the first resfiment of Ironsides at the 
crowning victory at Worcester, which battle van- 
quished all opposition to Cromw^ell. The Gilpins 
were amongst the first to enlist with Cromwell, and 
they remained faithful to him until he died. During 
a visit to England our present William Gilpin found 
Charles Gilpin, a representative of Northampton in 
parliament for eighteen years, a member of the board 
of trade, and a commissioner of the public works in 
London. 

Thomas Gilpin of Warborough, born in 1620, mar- 
ried Joan Bartholomew and had three sons, Joseph, 
Isaac, and Thomas. He was an ofiicer in the army, 
and after the battle of Worcester in 1651, joined the 
society of friends. Persecutions followed. Meetings 
were held at his house, for which offence he was 
stripped of his household effects and thrown into 
prison. Joseph Gilpin, born in 1664, married Han- 
nah Glover in 1691. They were quakers; and seeing 
how badly their people were treated by the govern 
ment, emigrated with their two small children, in 
1696, to America, having for their companions de voy- 
age the ancestors of the Coats and Morris families. 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 5 

and settling at Birmingham meeting-house on the 
Brandywine, in what is now Delaware county, Penn- 
sylvania. 

It was a frontier settlement, and the forest yet 
waved over the spot which was to be his future home. 
Each settler had his own work to do; wherefore for 
the shelter of his family Joseph Gilpin hollowed out a 
cave by the side of a rock, in some dry white clay, 
which for warmth and healthfulness was superior to 
many of the houses of his neighbors built above 
ground; and there he lived and reared his family of 
fifteen children. From Joseph Gilpin's second son, 
Samuel, sprang Thomas, born in 1728, whose first son, 
Joshua, born in Philadelphia in 1765, was father of 
our William Gilpin, who was the eighth and youngest 
child. 

Before coming to America the Gilpins and others 
had built the little meeting-house in which William 
Penn preached, and their families intermarried after- 
ward. When the Mason and Dixon line was later 
marked off, three states cornered in the Gilpin or- 
chard. In generations following the first in Amer- 
ica, log, frame, and brick houses were respectively 
built for the occupation of the Gilpins, and a residence 
in Philadelphia established. 

Thomas Gilpin, the grandfather of our William 
Gilpin, engaged in farming and manufacturing; he 
was interested in science, and was one of the founders 
of the American philosophical society. 

Joshua Gilpin, the father of William, was a man of 
no ordinary culture and ability, inheriting all the 
finish possessed by the quakers of Philadelphia during 
the era of their prosperity, when the whole power 
of the American people was centred there. Asso- 
ciating on equal terms with the most polished and 
learned men on both sides of the Atlantic, his society 
was sought by every one. It was his house that w^as 
Lafayette's headquarters at the battle of Branywine. 
Between the vears 1795 and 1801 he lived in Eno-- 



6 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

land and married an Englishwoman. Under many 
discouragements he urged to completion the canal 
which his father had projected. He was very fond 
of historical investigations, and of poetry, publishing 
in 1799, Verses Written at the Fountain of Vaucluse; 
in 1821, Memoir on a Canal from the Chesapeake to the 
Delaware; and in 1839, Farm of Virgil and other Poems. 
He died in Philadelphia in 1840. 

His wife, Mary Dil worth, and William's mother, 
was the fit consort of such a man, beautiful, amiable, 
and accomplished. She was of quaker stock, her 
father, John Dilworth, being a banker at Lancaster. 
She was a conspicuous figure in the best society, in 
which were many charming men and women of good 
breeding, polish, and education; the Jeffersons, the 
Randolphs, the Franklins, the Washingtons, and 
others. Within their immediate neighborhood were 
nine signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

The sympathies of the Gilpins were of course all 
with Washington, but being quakers they were, 
non-combatants during the Revolutionary war. A 
flouring mill built by Thomas Gilpin, William's grand- 
father, is now called the Washington mill, having 
supplied Washington with flour while at Valley 
Forge. Of the large landed interest, consisting of 
several hundred thousands of acres, which the family 
possessed, five thousand acres finally fell to William, 
which he sold at five dollars an acre, investimg the 
money in western Missouri, the rest having been cut 
up and scattered by sales and intermarriages. 

It was into such an atmosphere as this that William 
Gilpin was born, on the 4th of October, 1822. Among 
his earliest recollections was the visit of Lafayette to 
his father's house on the anniversary of the battle of 
Brandy wine, he being at that time just old enough 
to be carried on a horse behind his father. During 
his earlier childhood he was not sent to school, but 
was the pupil of his father. Among those from whom 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 7 

he learned much was Lawrence Washington, whose 
home was at Mt Vernon. There was quite a French 
settlement on the Brandy wine, among them the Du- 
pont family, the famous powder manufacturers, Ad- 
miral Dupont being one. 

William was very fond of history, poetry, and 
physical gecjgraphy ; he spoke French fluently at an 
early age. He was indeed a favored child of fortune, 
with his elegant surroundings and happy home, which 
overlooked the Delaware and the Brandywine, where 
the boats were constantly passing, and having Penn- 
sylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey in 
sight. Being the youngest he was made much of b}^ 
all. It was the custom of the Gilpin s to make occa- 
sional visits among the prominent people, travelling 
in the family carriage, and on these trips they would 
always take William. And around their table all 
these friends would meet to eat Christmas dinner 
with Joshua Gilpin. 

To complete their education and see more of the 
world, the Gilpin children were sent to Europe on 
arriving at proper age. So when he was twelve 
years old William's father took him over to Newcastle, 
and put him on boaid the ship Montezuma, bound for 
Liverpool, whose captain Joshua Gilpin well knew, 
the boy being consigned to the care of an elder 
brother, wdio was clerk in the quaker American 
house of Cropper and Benson. At Settle, in York- 
shire, was a foundation school, like Rugby, where but 
sixty pupils were admitted, and there William was 
placed, and remained two years. He studied mathe- 
matics and the languages, and had additional masters 
in Liverpool. 

His purpose here being accomplished, after a visit 
to a brother who had been appointed by President 
Jackson American consul at Belfast, he returned to 
Philadelphia, where his father and brother Henry 
had a house and spent much of their time. He at 
once applied for admission to the junior class of the 



8 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

university of Pennsylvania, among whose founders was 
his grandfather, and where three of his brothers had 
graduated. It was against the rules of the institu- 
tion to admit advanced students without their taking 
the usual course, and the faculty at first refused him. 
"If they will not admit you tell them you shall go to 
Princeton," his father said. The faculty yielded ; but 
the boy had to undergo his examination ; and to this 
end he employed a tutor, who was the author Haw- 
thorne, and studied night and day through the inter- 
vening ten weeks of vacation. At the beginning of 
the term he presented himself, was examined for three 
days, was admitted, and in two years graduated. 

President Jackson, who was on intimate terms with 
the Gilpin family, had always taken a paternal inter- 
est in Joshua's boys, following them in their studies, 
and securing them places after their education was fin- 
ished. On one occasion, in making a journey into 
New England, Jackson came to Newcastle in a 
steamer, and Joshua Gilpin went over to receive him 
there. When he entered the cabin Old Hickory im- 
mediately stepped forward, threw his arms around 
him, and said: "Here is a face I am delighted to 
see. Where is your son?" referrino- to William's 
eldest brother, Henry. "You should have brought 
him along; he is my son too." Henry was United 
States district attorney at Philadelphia, and was af- 
terward appointed United States attorney general. 

They were having much trouble about that time 
with the affairs of the United States bank, to which 
Henrj^ had to give attention, and William was fre- 
quently sent to Washington with messages from the 
directors to General Jackson, who always greeted the 
youth most kindly with the endearing epithet "my 
son." Thus William had almost free access to the 
president's apartments, and when the youth mg.de 
bold to ask a favor it was usually granted. There- 
fore when he expressed a desire to go to West Point, 
his wish being backed by the influence of his father 



WILLIAM UlLPIN. 9 

and brother, he had no difficulty in having his name 
placed in advance of the hundreds of other applicants. 

At West Point William studied very hard, Meade 
and Montgomery Blair were his tutors. He spent 
much of his time in the library, and gave special 
attention to French and mathematics. On complet- 
ing his course at West Point he went to Philadelphia. 
He was now eao^er for action. He had been educated 
almost to death by the brightest intellects in the world, 
and now he would try the metal of his own mind. For 
some time past he had read and thought much regard- 
ing the great unoccupied West, never loosing an oppor- 
tunity to converse with those familiar with the subject. 
Already military forces were on the frontier, stationed 
at various forts, at once to restrain and protect the 
Indians and prevent white men from illegall}^ enter- 
ing their territory. All this was thrilling romance 
to the young cadet. Some clay he would go there; 
some day he would mingle with those scenes, and 
would stir up events which in their turn should yet 
more stir him up, and help him on to high emprise. 

As there was no fighting at present to be done at 
home, it occurred to William to try his fortune 
abroad, and he accordingly slipped over to London. 
At that time a legion of ten thousand was forming in 
England for service in Spain, to fight against Don 
Carlos and in favor of Isabella, and it was his idea to 
join this army, learn something of the Spanish lan- 
guage, and the mode of warfare practised there. His 
third brother was in London at the time, learning- 
engineering, but was about ready to return home. 
He made application to Colonel Witherell, the re- 
cruiting agent for the arinj^ in London, and was told 
he could not got a commission; that the young nobil- 
ity were applying for positions constantly, and that 
a mere youth, especially an American, had no chance. 
His father sustained agreeable personal relations with 
Lord Brougham, and he was making arrangements 



10 GOVERNMENT-COLORADO. 

to secure his indorsement and that of other friends in 
London, when the ship Toronto came into Southamp- 
ton port from New York, after a thirteen days' voy- 
age, the quickest saiHng that had yet been made. 
This vessel brought news of the great fire in New 
York, and what was of greater importance, the out- 
break of the Seminoles in Florida, and the massacre 
of Dade's command at Withlachooche, Plantations 
were being robbed right and left, and the negroes 
driven into the everglades in the interior. Here, in- 
deed, was opportunity; the lad might now have some 
fighting. In company with his brother Richard he 
at once returned home, arriving in New York on the 
4tli of March, 1836. Without stopping to visit his 
parents in Philadelphia, lest they should endeavor to 
prevent his purposes, young .Gilpin started for Wash- 
ington. Having to remain over one night at Balti- 
more, he went on the railroad, which had just been 
opened, to see the president. On board the train was 
Blackhawk, the Indian chief who had been captured 
a short time previous, and was being taken as a pres- 
ent to Jackson. In riding over the bleak and sterile 
country between Baltimore and Washington, some 
one asked Blackhawk how he liked railroads. He 
had come from the Rock River country, a fertile and 
beautiful section, and the contrast was appalling to 
him. He replied, with an Indian grunt, "The Great 
Spirit give machine to these people to get 'um over 
this country quick." 

Jackson had raised one reofiment of drao-oons, 
which was stationed at Leavenworth, and employed 
to protect the frontier, particularly to keep the whites 
out of the Indian country along the line of the Mis- 
souri and Arkansas rivers, and down to the gulf. 
The Oregon question and other matters began to be 
agitated, and the president was getting well through 
his struggle with the United States bank, and saw 
victory near at hand; so he raised a second regiment 
to go out into the Indian country where the first 



WILLIAM GILPIN. II 

regiment was stationed. The third regiment, organ- 
ized later, took the name of the Oregon regiment, and 
these three regiments of cavalry, and two others, 
formed the government corps of our army. Another 
regiment of negroes has been added to it. The cur- 
rent of matters was so intense and impetuous then 
that it got the American people to thinking, and 
broke down the line of despotism. It was while this 
regiment was being formed by Harney in the west, 
that the Florida war commenced. Harney was at 
St Louis as paymaster, and Wharton Rector was in 
the army, and as each .so desired, they exchanged, 
and Harney was put mto William's regiment as 
major. Young Gilpin without difficulty obtained 
from the president a commission as 2d lieutenant in 
the 2d Dragoons, and was sent among the miners of 
Missouri to gather recruits. 

This was in July 1836. The stalwart sons of 
Missouri regarded it as a joke that a boy like this 
should be sent to enlist them to fight the battles of 
their country. Nevertheless he continued his course, 
and after reporting himself at St Louis, he went up 
the Mississippi under Harney's direction. He was 
full of fire and life, and had dashed recklessly into the 
west. He liked Harney, and Harney was pleased with 
him. He remained recruiting until autumn of this 
year, when he received a letter at Louisville from 
Harney, containing an order from the president to 
collect all the recruits obtainable in the valley of the 
Mississippi, take them down to New Orleans, and get 
ready to join Jessup in Florida. This he did, remain- 
ing at New Orleans all winter in command of recruits, 
drilling and preparing them for service. The men 
were part of the force originally intended for the 
frontier, but while recruiting they were ordered to 
Florida, and thus all came together at New Orleans. 

Albert Sidney Johnston was there on his way to 
join Sam Houston in Texas as his adjutant-general, 
and he afterward became general of the standing army 



12 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

of Texas when Houston was made president. Twiggs 
came on from Washington and took Gilpin to St 
Louis, all in preparation for the Florida campaign. 
He was now assigned the position of first lieutenant 
in the company, and he asked General Gaines and 
General Atchison, who were there, to be sent to Flor- 
ida to join his company, which had been sent forward 
from New York. This was done early in the summer 
of 1838. 

There was a post within twelve miles of St Augus- 
tine, in the woods, and General Hernandez, a Mexican, 
under whom Gilpin found himself, kept him constantly 
scouting. During these scouts Osceola, Coacooche, 
Blue Snake, and other prominent Seminole chiefs 
were captured. They had been scattered about with 
their families, and had swept a vast number of negroes 
down into their country, and these black men were 
constantly escaping and giving information as to where 
a certain notorious family or band of savages could be 
found. Presently General Jessup came up with the 
main army; likewise Belknap, tiie general of artillery; 
and Twiggs came down by land through Nashville. 
In the mean time Gilpin had become master of the 
situation, owing to the scouting expeditions he had 
made, and during which he had studied the country 
very carefully. There were skirmishes every week, 
and sometimes every day. It was in the region of cy- 
press swamps, grass lakes, alligators, and all kinds of 
things curious to the young northerner. When Jes- 
sup arrived and took command of the army, and the 
weather became cold enough to open the winter cam- 
paign, he placed Gilpin and his men near him, and the 
result was that during all the rest of the war the young 
man was in active service day and night under Jessup's 
orders. Finally Taylor appeared on the gulf side, and 
fought the Indians below the Okechobee, while Jessup 
pressed them from the north and scattered them into 
the everglades. The few that could not get out were 
allowed to remain on condition that they would never 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 13 

cross a line drawn from Charlotte's harbor to Indian 
river. 

Steamers then came for the troops, and Gilpin was 
sent with five or six hundred horses over to Fort 
Melon, where supplies had accumulated. Meanwhile 
Van Buren had come into power and Mr Calhoun now 
looked after these matters; and his object had been 
accomplished when money enough had been spent to 
secure a southern state to counteract the admission of 
Michigan, a non-slaveholding state. And even now, 
instead of being sent to renew exploration in the west, 
the whole force was dismounted and turned into a 
rifle regiment, and sent to Jessup to watch negroes 
for Calhoun. Not caring for such occupation, and 
unwilling to have his hopes thus blasted, Gilpin pro- 
ceeded to Washington and requested Mr Van Buren 
to either give him a company of explorers, that he 
might undertake investigations throughout the conti- 
nent to the Columbia river, which region the United 
States laid claim to, or to give him leave of absence 
for two or three years that he might make a journey 
on his own responsibility. Moreover he did not like 
Twiggs. But Van Buren refused, saying it was 
against the policy of his administration to have any 
outbreak or agitation toward the central west. There 
was filibustering in Cuba and in Central America; 
there had been trouble in Florida, and he wanted no 
excitement among the savages in the direction of the 
Pacific. He informed Gilpin that if he did not like 
the officers of his regiment, there was forming the 8th 
regiment of infantry, to which he could be transferred 
and promoted. Gilpin had brought with him his 
commission in his breast pocket, knowing beforehand 
that nothing could be done with Van Buren, and he 
now asked the president to accept his resignation, 
which was done. Nevertheless he was greatly dis- 
appointed, and said : " This breaks my life in two ; what 
is left of it I will take into my own hands." 



14 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

He returned to Missouri and resumed civil life, 
locating himself at St Louis, where he took charge 
of the Missouri Arg^is, conducting it for twelve months 
during an election campaign. The reelection of Ben- 
ton and Lynn to the senate was the issue of the hour, 
and their interests were regarded as in jeopardy. 
Under its former management the Argus had broken 
down, and as Gilpin was a young man, and mentally 
and physically vigorous, he was deemed a proper per- 
son to place in charge of the paper. The opposition 
brought Webster to St Louis, and he made a telling 
speech, saying that in his opinion the vote of the 
coming presidential campaign turned on the election 
in Missouri, and that it was essential to get Benton 
out of the way. It was a desperate fight. St Louis 
was the focal point where all the political rabble from 
New Orleans and elsewhere gathered themselves, and 
they were now holding here violent conventions.' 
This inflammable element went up the river to Keokuk, 
Bocheport, Cincinnati, and Nashville, lighting the 
fires of spurious patriotism. But the party fought 
its way through, and carried the state legislature by 
139 votes for the reelection of Benton and Lynn. 

Gilpin was thereupon made secretary of the general 
assembl}^ of the state of Missouri. Sterling Price 
was speaker. In their measures they put a saving 
clause which prevented any effort toward reconstruct- 
ing the United States bank, and the independent 
treasury system was brougiit forward and established 
by Van Buren. Yet Gilpin saw that nothing could 
be done in the direction he desired, in view of the 
change of politics; so that after his duties as secretary 
of the general assembly were over he determined to 
give his time to exploration, as there existed every- 
where a lamentable ignorance of the western country. 
What shall we say when so astute a statesman as 
Daniel Webster, at the close of a speech on the floor 
of the United States senate, denouncing a proposition 
to establish a mail route from Independence, Mis- 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 15 

souri, to the mouth of the Columbia, breaks forth: 
"What do we want with this vest, worthless area? 
This region of savages and wild beasts, of deserts, of 
shifting sands and whirlwinds of dust, of cactus and 
prairie dogs? To what use could we ever hope to 
put these great deserts, or those endless mountain 
ranges, impenetrable and covered to their ver}^ base 
with eternal snow? What can we ever hope to do 
with the western coast, a coast of 3,000 miles, rock- 
bound, cheerless, uninviting, and not a harbor on it? 
What use have we for such a country? Mr Presi- 
dent, I will never vote one cent from the public 
treasury to place the Pacific coast one inch nearer to 
Boston than it now is." 

Gilpin knew better than this, and he would know 
more. But first he would settle himself somewhere 
and declare his profession. He had entered his name 
as student of law, with his brother, in Philadelphia, 
and on determining^ to make his home in the west he 
had gone before Strong, judge of the eastern district 
of Pennsylvania, where he was examined and ad- 
mitted to practice, and he had brought with him his 
commission. 

During his editorship of the Missouri Argus Gilpin 
made many hearty enemies in St Louis and elsewhere, 
owing to the political bitterness which prevailed dur- 
ing the campaign which resulted in the election of 
Benton and Lynn; and while holding the office of 
secretary of the general assembly he went constantly 
armed and always on the lookout for an assault. Two 
indictments were found against him in St Louis, but 
Governor Reynolds said, "Give yourself no uneasiness 
on that score, for whatever they do I have always 
your pardon written out." Gilpin read one morning, 
at Jefferson Cit}^ a copy of a notice which had been 
posted up on the steps of the court-house at St Louis, 
to the effect that if he returned to St Louis he would 
be killed at sight. It was signed by a man named 
Grimsey, a well-known political boss and a bully. 



16 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

The session having closed, it became Gilpin's duty to 
take the manuscript of the laws, which had been 
revised, to the state printer at Cape Girardo. He at 
once started for that point via St Louis. He arrived 
in the latter city at midnight, and on the following- 
morning, while passing along the street, he was ap- 
proached by the man Grimsey, a large, powerful fellow, 
who was carrying a heavy club. Gilpin at that time 
weighed 145 pounds, but he was lithe and active, and 
his physical training had been excellent. He carried in 
his hand a stout hickory stick which he used to good 
advantage; for before the bully could strike, Gilpin 
had, with a blow of his stick, disarmed his antagonist, 
and was raining down blows upon his head. The 
stick split, but Gilpin kept on, each blow cutting to 
the bone, until the bully was dripping in his own 
blood. The combat occupied not more than two 
minutes, and resulted in Grimsey being completely 
vanquished. After this Gilpin proceeded to Cape 
Girardo and transacted his business with the state 
printer. Grimsey 's chastisement effected a total 
reformation in his character, and he lived an exem- 
plary life for the rest of his days. 

Jackson and Clay counties were directly opposite 
one another, and abutting against the Indian territory; 
they had been named at the time of the memorable 
battle between Clay and Jackson for the presidency. 
Clay county on the north had been settled principally 
by Kentuckians, while Jackson county on the south 
was populated by Tennesseans. Lieutenant Gilpin 
finally located himself at Independence, the county 
seat of Jackson county, a few miles below where Kan- 
sas City now is, where he entered into the practice of 
the law. His brother had presented him with a set 
of United States supreme court reports upon his de- 
parture for the west, and these formed the nucleus of 
his hbrary. The land between the town-site and the 
river he secured, and built thereon a cabin, in which 
he at times lived. The spot was isolated, the onh^ 



WILLIAM UILPIN. I7 

commerce being that conducted by means of wagon- 
trams which passed over the mountains into Mexican 
territory, but its remoteness from the civihzed east 
was counterbalanced by its proximity to that vast un- 
explored region of which he had so long dreamed, and 
he was content to remain there that he might associ- 
ate with those adventurous men who were tradino-, 
hunting, or trapping in the territory he was dete?- 
mmed to explore, and from them derive information as 
to climate and topography which would be of benefit to 
him on his projected journey. He talked with Kit 
Carson and others from the wilderness who came in 
and passed through Independence almost every sum- 
mer. 

Neither his law practice nor his agricultural pur- 
suits proved remunerative. He managed however to 
earn enough to live upon, but that was all. In 1842 
a party of New Mexican traders having in their pos- 
session $60,000 in silver coin, with which they intended 
to purchase goods, was expected to arrive in Inde- 
pendence. A few of their number, who came into 
town in advance of the main party, brought the news 
that a band of robbers had gone out to get this money, 
and requested that assistance should be sent. Ten 
men under Lieutenant Gilpin were furnished provis- 
ions and transportation, and they started off. Un- 
fortunately the robbers were succe'ssful in their desion. 
Only the hair of Manuel Chaves, the chief trad'er, 
who had charge of the money, was found, the body 
having been devoured by wolves. The robbers re- 
turned to Independence and thence to Kansas City 
where they were arrested, taken to St Louis, and four 
ot them hanged. Independence remained Lieutenant 
Orilpin s nominal residence for twenty years, from 1841 
to 1861, though he was at various times absent upon 
exploring expeditions. 

His next expedition, in which he made his way to 
the Pacific Ocean, near Astoria, was begun in June 



18 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

1843. By selling liis library, and in various other 
ways, he secured a little money with which to purchase 
an outfit. His first purchase was a saddle-horse for 
$95. He then bought a yaager rifle, blankets, and 
the various paraphernalia requisite to an extended jour- 
ney through the wilderness. Yet he needed more 
money, and an acquaintance, who was soon to be mar- 
ried to an intimate friend of his, loaned him a hundred 
dollars. He was now ready to start, having as an 
outfit, and in addition to his saddle-horse, rifle, and 
small-arms, a pack-mule that carried his camping 
utensils. The people evinced very decided opposition 
to his going thus alone far into the Indian country, 
and used every argument to dissuade him from his 
purpose, but without avail. After mounting and 
starting out the pack-mule broke away from him, 
lost the pack, and returned to town. Again he had 
to pass through the ordeal of his friends, but he re- 
mained firm of purpose, and the second start proved 
successful. 

Fremont had been ordered, about this time, to make 
a summer expedition to the mountains and return; and 
a party of Scotchmen were also intending to make a 
hunting trip to the South pass and return ; but Gilpin's 
objective point was the mouth of the Columbia. He 
went into camp the first evening, out about thirty 
miles, at a spot called the Lone Elm, David Waldo, 
the man who had loaned him the money, accompany- 
ing him thus far. He found encamped in this vicin- 
ity a few men whom he did not at first recognize, 
but to his surprise they proved to be the party 
of Fremont. The immortal pathfinder asked Gilpin 
where he was going, and was told. He expressed 
astonishment, and said: "Why, even with my whole 
force I do not consider myself safe from massacre 
to-morrow; now if you are determined to go on, throw 
your pack into one of my chareftes, turn your mule 
into my band, and let me have the reenforcement of 
your horse and rifle." This arrangement was highly 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 19 

satisfactory to Gilpin, as it afforded him companion- 
ship and protection for a long distance. 

The party proceeded up the Kansas river, from the 
head of the Kansas over to the Platte, and followed 
up the Platte to the St Vrain fork. That being the 
boundary line and all beyond hostile, they remained 
there for some time, sending to Bent's fort for some 
hunters and fresh horses. Fremont's orders from the 
secretary of war were to make a line of survey to 
Walla Walla; and this he did, reaching there about 
the middle of October. Durmg the journey Fremont 
would occasionally leave the party and make little 
detours for the purpose of investigation, and Lieuten- 
ant Gilpin also followed this practice, thereby adding 
much to his knowledge of the topography of the coun- 
try. In one of these excursions Fremont arrived at 
Walla Walla some days before the rest of the party, 
and at once proceeded to Vancouver for supplies for 
his return journey. 

When Gilpin arrived at Walla Walla, he learned of 
Fremont's departure for Vancouver, and also that he 
had left his men in camp at the upper Dalles. From 
Walla Walla he proceeded to the upper Dalles, where 
he met an Irishman named Dougherty, a Welshman 
named Owen, and an American named Campbell, the 
latter a 3^oung man of good parts and [)leasant bear- 
ing. Archibald McKinley had charge of the fort at 
that point, and of him Gilpin procured some horse 
meat, potatoes, and some green tea which had once 
been used; also exchanging his pack-mule, Kitt}^, for 
a log canoe, and leaving his horse with McKinley. 
They embarked in the canoe, which was guided by an 
Indian pilot, and had an enjoyable trip down the 
river, thouo-h at times beino- in dano-er from the sav- 
ages who were fishing along the bank, until they 
arrived safely at the lower Dalles, where Fremont 
had left his camp in charge of Kit Carson. Three 
days later Fremont returned with five canoes loaded 
with supplies for bis homeward journey. During the 



20 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

following night Gilpin's canoe was stolen by the 
Indians. Fremont had previously exhausted all his 
eloquence in endeavoring to induce Grilpin to remain 
with the party, but without avail. Fremont now 
turned over to Gilpin the five canoes to take back to 
McLaughlin at Vancouver. 

Arriving at that point he was welcomed with great 
hospitality by McLaughlin and the factors of the 
Hudson's Bay Company, and here he remained some 
two months, one of a congenial party that gathered 
at Vancouver, consisting of McLaughlin, Douglas, 
Ogden, McTavish, and the traders who happened to 
come in. It was customary for them to dine to- 
gether, either with McLaughlin or Douglas, and 
during his stay there Lieutenant Gilpin was very 
assiduous in acquiring as much knowledge as he could 
regarding the country, its resources, and the condition 
of affairs, and from his unrestrained intercourse with 
these people he learned much that was desirable to 
know. Often he would sit at dinner until ten o'clock 
at night, in conversation with some intelligent trav- 
eller. 

Finally the fur magnates decided that Gilpin knew 
too much for the interests of the great game preserve, 
and they endeavored to get him out of the country by 
one of their ships then lying in the river, and bound 
for the Sandwich islands. Of this earthly paradise 
they gave Gilpin the most glowing accounts, putting 
before him the advantage such a voyage would be to 
him, and offering him letters of introduction to Sir 
Hugh Pelley, and transportation to London, all at 
the expense of the Hudson's Bay Company. Finally 
the captain of this vessel, a shrewd Scotchman, in- 
vited Gilpin, and his most agreeable young friend 
Campbell, on board his vessel to dine with him. He 
introduced to them his best cabin, and told them that 
this should be their home as long as they desired. 
They sat down to dinner and enjoyed the appetizing 
efforts of an excellent cook, and also drank freely of 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 21 

wine which the captain generously set forth, with 
occasional potations of brandy. During the evening 
the captain and young Campbell succumbed to the 
influences of good cheer, and made themselves com- 
fortable in corners of the cabin. Gilpin, but little 
inconvenienced by the fiery potations, after breakfast- 
ing on a tender, well-cooked duck, went ashore just 
after daylight and was met by Douglas, who seemed 
surprised at his quick return from the ship. The 
idea of these whole- soul and hospitable men had been 
to detain him on board the vessel until she could get 
to sea, and then rid themselves of one whose pro- 
nounced views and aggressive nature presaged dis- 
astrous antagonism. But in this they signally failed. 
From Vancouver Gilpin proceeded up the Willa- 
mette river to Oregon City. Scarcely had he arrived 
there when three Indians came into town and shot 
and killed three young Americans with poisoned 
arrows. Excitement ran high, and a few of the peo- 
ple gathered to see what measures could be taken to 
insure self-protection. There were various matters 
needing attention, everything political being at loose 
ends. It was decided to hold a convention on the 
succeeding 4th of March, for the purpose of organiz- 
ing some sort of a provisional government, and secur- 
inar recoo-nition from the United States. Doctor 
White was appointed to represent the Americans, 
Douglas to represent the English, and Lieutenant 
Gilpin to represent the western and Rocky mountain 
population, and these men were to bring about this 
convention. Douglas refused to serve, as it would 
interfere with his position with the English govern- 
ment. White refused for the same reason, that it 
would compromise him; and it was concluded that 
Gilpin should do what he could. He procured a 
guide, Joe Meek, and together they proceeded up the 
Willamette to the chief settlement, within about 
twelve miles of Salem, where there was a catholic 
mission. 



22 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

The object was to notify the settlers of the pro- 
posed convention, and to induce every one to be 
present. Gilpin then went to Vancouver, and again 
endeavored to enlist McLaughlin and Douglas in the 
movement; after much discussion it was agreed that 
the attendants at this convention should unite as peo- 
ple of the Pacific coast, and without reference to any 
existing government. In the mean time a brief 
schedule of a provisional government was drawn up, 
which provided for an executive committee of three, 
for magistrates who should hold courts, and for con- 
stables; and finally for a committee in charge of this 
executive committee, to be finally chosen by them, to 
be ready to afford any assistance that they might be 
able to give, should any difliculty occur. Blubber 
Smith was made chairman, and two Canadians were 
vice-presidents. The schedule was adopted, and served 
its purpose until the territory became stronger. Lieu- 
tenant Gilpin drew up with great care a petition to 
the government of the United States, requesting, in 
the same vigorous language used by our grandfathers 
in the declaration of independence, that notice should 
be taken of the exposed condition of the people, flanked 
by the open sea where the fleets of the world could 
come in, surrounded by savages, with nothing to live 
upon, and harassed in many ways by reason of Brit- 
ish authority. 

When the meeting was about to adjourn sine die, 
Doctor White presented the petition for the consid- 
eration of the assemblage. The chairman at first ob- 
jected to have anything to do with foreign affairs, but 
consented that it should be read, and after hearing its 
contents, he unhesitatingly put his name to it; the two 
vice-presidents, who could not read or write, then made 
their marks, which were duly witnessed, and then the 
others signed. Thus was Lieutenant Gilpin appointed 
an agent of the people to lay the petition before the 
president of the United States. The petition further 
stated that though Oregon thus far had produced 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 23 

nothing of value to the United States, yet with a 
little help, it would become an important factor in 
the government. 

Up to this time Gilpin had not been able to proceed 
west farther than the mouth of the Willamette, and 
he now determined that he would see the Pacific 
ocean without further delay. He procured a yawl 
with a single mast and a sheet for a sail, and then as 
a crew he took in a sprightly young sailor boy, a 
Missouri man named Chappel, and one Doc Newell. 
They rowed down the Willamette and out into the 
Columbia. After proceeding a short distance down 
the Columbia, it v/as noticed that they were not 
making much headway, and Gilpin suggested that 
they should go ashore and wait until the tide changed 
in their favor. At this Newell turned pale, and asked 
if the sea was really strong enough to take anything 
up stream. To prove it to him, Gilpin threw out 
some hay, which floated up past a snag, and caught 
thereon, much to the discomfiture of Newell. "When 
I find myself in a country where water runs up 
stream," he said, "I want to get out of it; it is no 
place for an Ohio man." 

"I am going to the ocean," said Gilpin, "and you 
must help me get there," at the same time guiding 
the boat out into the middle of the stream to prevent 
Newell from jumping ashore. The country was a sav- 
age wilderness, and should he be put ashore, he 
would probably starve to death or be killed by In- 
dians. But Newell said that he had a wife and chil- 
dren at home ; and so strong was his belief that sure 
destruction awaited a man who was rash enough to 
venture nearer to any such terrible body of water, 
that after about an hour spent in trying to convince 
him of his folly, they finally placed him "on shore and 
rowed away. At a saw-mill, a few miles farther 
down, they procured a Nez Perces Indian to take 
the place of Newell. 

When they reached the wide bay inside of Tongue 



24 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

point, the waves were running high, and the wind blow- 
ing furiously. The remainder of the passage promised 
to be extremely hazardous. In rounding the point, 
Gilpin had the men lie down flat in the boat, while 
he took the sail and rudder and picked his way 
along shore, sometimes barely grazing the rocks; but 
after getting into the open channel, he had a fair wind 
down to Astoria, or Fort George, where the party 
was warmly greeted by the commander, who with his 
people had been watching the dangerous course of 
the boat, and wondering who its occupants could be. 
The following day Gilpin set out to make the last 
stage of his westward journey to the shores of the 
Pacific. Dense forests and almost impenetrable 
swamps had to be traversed, and the only guide 
procurable was a young Indian girl. They landed 
in the afternoon, and started into the woods to cross 
over to the beach. Soon darkness set in, and the 
situation became more depressing when their guide 
made the announcement, in her own terse manner, 
that she had lost the trail. Nothing further could 
be done until morning. Gilpin, after some difficulty, 
succeeded in starting a small fire, with the aid of a 
flint, and they remained there until daylight, though 
none of them slept. When morning came the trail 
was found, and in a short time they emerged upon 
Clatsop beach. Thus the great object of the journey 
from Jackson county had been accomplished. 

Gilpin took a plunge in the sea, and was then ready 
to retrace his steps. Among other curiosities on the 
beach, they found the skeleton of a whale, some forty- 
five feet long. The return journey to Astoria, and 
thence to Vancouver, was soon made, without special 
adventure. Arriving there, Gilpin applied to Mc- 
Laughlin for assistance to return home. The fur 
magnate placed at his service a canoe and five In- 
dians, with provisions, consisting of cured pork, which 
was scarce and expensive, and other articles of food, 
and on the 10th of April. 1844, he left Vancouver. 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 25 

Arriving at the upper Dalles he exchanged his five 
Indians and one canoe for one Indian and five horses, 
swam the river below the Dalles, proceeded 250 miles 
through Washington territory, and recrossed at Walla 
Walla, where he was left alone. There he was obliged 
to wait for the annual brigade of supplies for Fort 
Hall, 900 miles distant, as it was not safe to make 
the journey alone. He found his horse safe; and 
when the brigade arrived under the command of 
Major Grant, he accompanied it as far as Fort Hall. 
Fort Bridger was the next objective point, and that 
was 300 miles farther on. At Fort Hall he met Peg- 
leg Smith, a powerful man, turbulent and tough, rude 
in manner, but of wonderful nerve and courage. 

While out on the plains with a wagon-train of sup- 
plies intended for Bent's fort, he was accidentally 
thrown from his wagon, and the heavy vehicle passed 
over his leg, crushing the bone below the knee, ren- 
dering amputation necessary. There was no physician 
within hundreds of miles, and he feared mortification 
would set in and consequent loss of life. Whereupon 
he made a saw from his butcher-knife, built a fire and 
heated a bolt from a wagon, and then cut the flesh to 
the bone, sawed the leg off, and drawing the flesh down 
over the wound he took the heated bolt and seared it 
over to prevent bleeding. This is not the only in- 
stance of similar heroism under the pressure of inex- 
orable necessity. 

This man had come to Fort Hall for powder, and 
Gilpin proposed to him that they should make the 
trip to Fort Bridger in company, to which Smith 
agreed. They could get no meat at Fort Hall, and 
the first night out they spent at Ross fork, with noth- 
ing to eat, and as a consequence were nearly famished. 
They accidentally killed a ground-hog and tried to eat 
it, but could not. The next day, the 3d of July, they 
started down the Point Neuf river, and were fortu- 
nate enough to shoot an antelope. They celebrated 
the 4th of July at Soda springs by eating antelope 



20 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

and drinking soda-water, and were then ready to re- 
sume their journey to Fort Bridger. Arriving there, 
Gilpin engaged a young Mexican boy as his guide, and 
together they proceeded over the Uintah mountains, 
and down to the Grand river of the west, which they 
crossed, coming out upon the old Spanish trail used 
by Californians to drive their cattle from Los Angeles 
to San Antonio, Texas. Turning to the left as they 
entered this trail they soon parted from the Grand 
river. Once they camped on the banks of a small 
muddy stream, and had hardly unpacked when their 
horses galloped off, and joined others which soon 
appeared in sight. Investigation showed that there 
was an Indian camp close by. By this time Gilpin 
had learned to be a better Indian than the Indians 
themselves ; yet it was only by his coolness and brav- 
ery under the most trying circumstances that he 
escaped with his life on this occasion. He held a 
long conference with the Indians that evening, and 
another in the morning, during which he distributed 
a few trifimg presents among them, and on the latter 
occasion extreme measures were advocated by one of 
the chiefs; but by his very audacity Gilpin and his 
guide were permitted to depart unharmed. He rode 
thirty-eight miles that day, crossing the Bio Grande 
toward evening. After that he encountered no more 
savages, although he was obliged to be constantly on 
his guard. Sometimes a week would elapse without 
a gun being discharged, and at other times he would 
not dare to light a fire. Passing through San Luis 
park he reached Bent's fort, and from that point took 
the wagon -road to Independence. 

Arrivmg at the state line he found that the presi- 
dential election of 1844 was being held. On learning 
who were the candidates he at once voted for Polk. 
Although his vote was at first challenged, it was 
afterwards taken, Gilpin claiming that if he had not 
been residing in Missouri for some time past, he had 
not resided anywhere else. Arrived at Jefferson 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 27 

City he was immediately tendered his old appoint- 
ment, that of secretary of the general assembly of 
Missouri, then in session, and which he accepted. 
The fame of his travels spread abroad, and he at- 
tracted much attention, letters pouring in upon him 
from all parts of the United States. The Oregon 
and Texas platforms had brought into existence the 
fundamental elements of the great army of pioneers, 
and they naturally turned to this young man who had 
traversed so much of the western territory. 

In the spring of 1845, after the legislature had 
adjourned and about the time Polk was inaugurated, 
he made a visit to his mother, on the Brandywine, 
and renewed his earlier associations in that quarter, 
his father being now dead. He went to Washington 
shortly after the inauguration of Polk. Among the 
new cabinet officers were many intimate family friends, 
among them Buchanan, Walker, Marcy, George Ban- 
croft, and others. He found himself heartily re- 
ceived at the capital. In the eyes of the people he 
was a hero. Washington was a large Virginia vil- 
lage at that time, and the kindness of so many dis- 
tinguished persons was gratifying after the hardships 
of his frontier life. Through all the flattering atten- 
tions he received he bore himself with that true 
quaker modesty which had been bred in him from 
boyhood. He called on James Buchanan, secretary 
of state, who recognized him at once, greeted him 
kindly, and requested him to recite the incidents of 
of his expedition to Oregon. This was done, and so 
interesting was it that Buchanan said, when Gilpin 
had finished: "You must come with me at once to the 
president and give him word for word, as near as you 
can, what you have told me. It is bewitching, and 
will be invaluable to us just at this time." He at 
once went to the president, and introducing Gilpin, 
said: "Here is my young friend William Gilpin, 
known to me from a boy. He is the greatest trav- 



'2S GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

eller of his age, and has given me such a clear, con- 
cise, and valuable account of his journey ings that I 
wish you to hear the same; and further, Mr Presi- 
dent, he does not desire an office." The president 
greeted him kindly, spoke of his friendship with his 
brother, Henry Gilpin, and seconded Mr Buchanan's 
request for an interview. This had been Gilpin's 
object from the beginning, and his dream of establish- 
ing an empire in the wilderness now seemed in a fair 
way to be realized. He repeated the account of his 
travels to the president, with his impressions of the 
country through which he had passed, a description 
of the climate and soil, the few settlers he had met, 
and their condition and necessities. His recital proved 
very gratifying to Mr Polk, who expressed his as- 
tonishment no less at the courage and enterprise of 
the young man than at what he heard regarding the 
condition of affairs in the west. Gilpin saw that an 
attempt would be made to overthrow Polk on the 
extension of territory question, as had been the case 
with Jackson on the currency question. His policy 
was that of Jefferson's, to push on to the Pacific and 
make safe all that vast country. 

As has been said. Lieutenant Gilpin desired no 
office. The idea of western dominion was with him 
greater than any position within the gift of the ad- 
ministration, or of the people, which would trammel 
his independence. He would have entertained no pro- 
position, he would have entered upon no road to honor 
or emolument, which would not have led in the direc- 
tion of his grand and animating conception. In the 
discussion of Oregon affairs, he was preeminently a 
most important personage. In speaking to bim, Sen- 
ator Benton said: "We are delighted to see you, and 
we are delighted with your conversations ; you are in 
a position to give us facts that we cannot find in any 
books; and you will find it universally satisfactory 
and to the pleasure of all our friends if you will return 
when congress opens." Of course Benton favored 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 29 

Fremont, the husband of Jessie, but he was still 
friendly and cordial to Gilpin. So the Oregon trav- 
eller went away, and returned at the convening of 
congress, and was admitted to all the debates, with 
the freedom of the floors of both houses, which were 
then in the old rooms ; and often when a member was 
in the midst of a speech, he would turn to Gilpin and 
inquire as to some point with which he himself was 
not familiar. 

Senator Niles. of Connecticut and Senator Atchi- 
son of Missouri, who belonged to the committee on 
post-offices and post-roads, were both greatly inter- 
ested in Lieutenant Gilpin. Said the former: "All 
that you have stated not only surprises me exceed- 
ingly, but harmonizes with my sentiments; but it is 
all too new and I am too old to study it out in all its 
vast magnitude; if you will address a letter to Senator 
Atchison covering the subject, I will introduce a bill 
and lay it before congress, making my report intro- 
ductory to the same." 

The report was submitted March 2, 1846, and 
ordered to be printed, 3,000 copies more being ordered 
two days thereafter. The committee recomended the 
opening of a mail route from the western line of the 
state of Missouri to the mouth of the Columbia river. 

In this letter Mr Gilpin gave a full description of 
the condition of affairs in Oregon. He speaks of the 
population, the industries and products of the coun- 
try, also its position in relation to Japan and China, 
and the attitude of the Hudson's Bay Company. He 
then pointed out the advantages, or rather, the abso- 
lute necessity, of a transcontinental mail route. It is 
worthy of remark that Mr Gilpin was among the 
first to suggest and urge this measure, as well as 
those of steam communication via Panamd, and the 
overland railway. 

This much having been disclosed, congress and 
the people desired to know more. On the 16th of 
March Senator Semple addressed a letter to Mr Gilpin 



30 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

requesting further information. Accompanying his 
answer was a full exposition of the natural resources 
and condition of the farthest west. He gave the geo- 
graphy and position of Oregon, showed the growth of 
America and the folly of restricting progress. He 
explained the possibilities of Pacific coast traffic, the 
geographical proportions of our national territory, the 
productive strength of America, the old and the new 
routes of commerce, the natural commercial affinity 
of the Americans and Asiatics, the dignity of the 
American position, and the necessity for further topo- 
graphic knowledge. Then he gave a fine dissertation 
upon climates, and on the physical character of the 
Pacific slope of the American continent. Next he 
speaks of the settlement of Oregon, the necessity of 
American sovereignty on this continent, the Euro- 
pean jealousy of America, concluding with some perti- 
nent comparisons. Altogether the report made a 
book of forty-seven pages, and coming just at this 
time, on the eve of the settlement of the Oregon 
question, the Mexican war, and the acquisition of 
California, its influence and importance cannot be 
estimated. 

Gilpin remained in Washington until the declara- 
tion of war against Mexico. Immediately after the 
battle of Palo Alto, a bill was passed entitled "An 
act to appropriate money for the existing hostilities 
between the United States and Mexico." Gilpin's 
petition from Oregon had been introduced in the sen- 
ate by Atchison, and was document No. 1 in both 
houses. After the declaration of war he had notified 
persons in Jackson county to raise a company, and 
they had saved a place for him, but this he did not 
want. From President Polk he obtained permission 
to call out one regiment of Missouri cavalry, and to 
call it the Army of the West. Upon reaching Inde- 
pendence he found that a company of 105 men had 
been raised, and had proceeded to Fort Leavenworth 
to be mustered in. 



WILLIAM GILPLV. 31 

He at once proceeded to Fort Leavenworth, and 
there found six companies of the 1st regiment Mis- 
souri volunteers. Company A of this regiment was 
composed of his friends who were anxiously awaiting 
his arrival. Kearney was present, and as he did not 
feel kindly toward Gilpin he determined that he 
should have no command. Gilpin felt that he would 
be elected an officer if he could once oain admission to 
the company. He found in the company from Jack- 
son county a boy, sixteen years old, whose widowed 
mother had claimed his discharge on account of his 
youth, and Gilpin paid this boy eighty-five dollars for his 
place in the ranks. - Otherwise he could not have se- 
cured a place, as the company already numbered 105; 
but as they were strong, hardy, and desirable soldiers, 
they had been permitted to remain. Gilpin was a 
trained soldier from the school, and had also had ex- 
perience on the field, and he drilled the companies up 
to the time of the election of officers. Among the 
men was an old class-mate named Ruff. Some of the 
men were pleased to think they could prevent Gilpin 
from holding any office in the company, as he previ- 
ously had worked his way up to a 1st lieutenancy, 
and then despising that rank, had resigned. 

Well, the election proceeded. A man named Doni- 
phan was chosen colonel, and the election for lieu- 
tenant-colonel then came up. Doniphan desired 
Gilpin to have the place, but RufF was the candidate 
of the West Pointers. Ruff was elected by two votes. 
The office of major was still open. After the election 
had proceeded thus far, the regiment broke into confu- 
sion and declared that Gilpin should be major. Gilpin 
thereupon made them a speech of about twenty minutes' 
duration, after which he was informed that Kearney 
wished to see him in his office. He obeyed the sum- 
mons, and Kearney said: "I have received from the 
president an appointment for you as lieutenant-colonel 
of the 3d regiment, and I suppose this is followed by 
a life service if you choose. Had you not better with- 



32 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

draw now and avail yourself of this appointment?" 
Said Gilpin, "I will not accept it." He felt it was a 
measure which would turn him from the west. He 
returned to the parade ground and was unanimously 
declared elected major, without the formality of ballot- 
ing. It spite of his age Gilpin had at that time more 
frontier experience than any of the officers ; his train- 
ing had been thorough and varied, and he was virtually 
master of the situation. The army entered Santa Fe 
in triumph on the 14th of August, 1846. Kearney 
had become homesick and desired to turn back. 

The army of the west at that time consisted of the 
1st regiment Missouri volunteers, of which Gilpin 
was major, three companies of dragoons, a battery of 
volunteer artillery, a small battalion of infantry from 
Cole county, Missouri, and a small cavalry company 
from St Louis. Attached to the army were three 
hundred merchant wagons with their owners. They 
had laid in a stock of goods especiall}^ adapted to the 
Mexican country, and they now desired to keep on to 
Chihuahua, their destination. These teamsters were 
as good soldiers as any in the army, and assisted 
materially at the battle of Sacramento, which pre- 
ceded the taking of the city of Chihuahua. This 
battle, at which the Americans had less than 1,200 
men in rank, was fought on the 28 th of February, 
1847, beginning at 3 a. m., and ending at twenty 
minutes past ten in the evening. The Mexican army, 
according to Gilpin's estimate, had 5,250 soldiers, 
with five generals and 26 pieces of artillery. The 
Americans had about eight hundred men, including 
the teamsters, who guarded the corral; but not all 
reported for duty; there were four field-pieces and 
two mountain howitzers. The Mexicans were drawn 
up in line and the Americans began to manoeuvre. 

They marched past the Mexicans, who, not antici- 
pating such a measure, waited too long and were then 
forced to move suddenly and disorderly to prevent 
the American army from marching around them to 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 33 

the city. As they turned to rectify their mistake the 
Americans charged them upon the tiank, captured 
their artillery, cut them in two, and defeated the two 
wings. The army then marched to Chihuahua, where 
it remained some three months. A dispute here 
arose between Gilpin and Doniphan, which involved 
the integrity of the expedition. 

The average age of the army was 22 years, and 
there was a difference of sentiment among the men, 
the younger ones wishing to push on into the Mexican 
country, and the others desiring to return. Gilpin's 
idea was this: that as they had possession of that 
magnificent city, and as the mint contained about 
$800,000, they should confiscate that money, as they 
had a right to do, as spoils of A\ar. Up to this time 
the army had not received any pay or recognition of 
their valor from home. Finally Doniphan agreed to 
call a court-martial and submit the question as to 
whether the army should retrace its steps, or push on 
to conquer the whole Mexican country. Thus far, 
besides doing their own work, they had done that 
which had been allotted to General Wool. Doniphan 
picked the members of the court-martial, such as 
would favor his views, as nearly as he was able ; but 
Gilpin had all the young men on his side. The ques- 
tion was put, and it was decided to push on to the 
city of Mexico. They then made a three days' march 
in that direction, Doniphan accompanying them, al- 
though protesting at every step, and oflfering to re- 
sign his command to Gilpin and return home. The 
third day they halted at San Felipe. Doniphan had 
left two companies at Chihuahua to guard the city ; 
also a number of the merchants who wished to sell 
out their goods. At San Felipe, on the following 
morning, when they were expecting to pursue their 
way, and while Gilpin was waiting for the order of 
march from Doniphan, to his surprise no such order 
came. What still more astonished him was to see 
Doniphan and several of his friends mount and take 



34 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

the back trail to Cliiliualiua. One of Doniphan's 
men came up presently and said that the orders were 
that the whole army should return to Chihuahua, 
that the country was full of hostile bands, that the 
soldiers left at Chihuahua would be massacred, and 
that he would not expose them in such a manner; so 
the whole army turned back. Arriving at Chihuahua 
there was another discussion as to whether the army 
should return home or not, and Gilpin succeeded in 
preventing this. Doniphan finally agreed to compro- 
mise the matter, the Gilpin party agreeing not to 
resume the march to Mexico, and Doniphan not to 
return to Missouri. 

Doniphan wrote a letter to General Taylor, then 
at Monterey, stating the position and condition of 
the army of the west, and requesting orders where to 
go. This was forwarded by special messenger. Tay- 
lor's answer was, ''Come to me." So the}^ started. 
From Chihuahua they marched through the state of 
Durango to Buena Vista, where Wool's army was en- 
camped, and thence made a two days' march to Mon- 
terey. Over a year had passed away, and the fighting- 
was at an end. They had now but to return home, 
so after spending one day with Taylor, they proceeded 
to Mier on the Del Norte, which stream was too low 
for navigation; whereupon they kept on down the 
river for thirty miles, until they found transports. 
From there they went down to the mouth of the 
river, landing at Bagdad. The nearest harbor into 
which transports for New Orleans could come was 
Brazos Santiago. Here arrangements were made for 
the transportation of the army to New Orleans. 

Major Gilpin proceeded in advance with a personal 
guard of twelve men, taking the steamer Telegraiph to 
New Orleans, where he arranged for the reception 
and paying of the army. He was three days in New 
Orleans before the first of the force arrived, during 
which time he and his companions were guests of the 
city. The gallant young major had seen service in 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 35 

the everglades of Florida, had been three years on 
the coast of Oregon, and eighteen months in the 
Mexican war, and his name was in every one's mouth. 
July and August the army spent in St Louis, where 
the twelve companies were discharged, and the people 
of Missouri were profuse in their attentions to the 
returned veterans. Major Gilpin was at this time 
suffering from the effects of malaria and touches of 
typhoid fever, and he concluded to go home to Inde- 
pendence to rest and recuperate. But for ten years 
the seeds of disease remained in his system. 

At a reunion of Doniphan's command, on the ninth 
anniversary of the battle of Sacramento, held at Sac- 
ramento City, California, the third toast was as fol- 
lows: "Major William Gilpin, the essence of chivalry, 
the disciplinarian of tlie regiment." To wliich senti- 
ment Senator Crenshaw replied: "I suppose I am 
chosen to respond to this toast on account of my 
intimate acquaintance with Major Gilpin. We were 
both in the same regiment, and from the position that 
I held, I had many opportunities of knowing that he 
possessed all the attributes expressed in the sentiment 
just read. It was to him the regiment was indebted 
for the military training it received. Colonel Doni- 
phan was in reality a citizen soldier. All his move- 
ments were characterized by a cool determination. 
The regiment was composed of the best men in the 
state of Missouri, young but courageous. During 
the whole of their adventurous^ march, traits of hero- 
ism were constantl}^ exhibited. But the crowning act 
was the battle of Sacramento. Upon the rolls that 
morning there were less than eight hundred men re- 
ported for duty, all told. By the books which after- 
ward fell into our hands, and which I have yet in my 
possession, the Mexican force that morning reported 
for duty over four thousand men The "Mexicans, 
besides, occupied a position protected by redoubts and 
ditches, and had a much superior artillery force. Be- 
hind Doniphan's men was a desert of two thousand 



36 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

miles; they were three hundred miles distant from 
another American soldier; they were almost entirely 
bereft of food, and clothed in rags. The Mexicans 
were certain of an easy victory. They had already 
provided the thongs with which to pinion the Mis- 
souri Yankees. But the motto of the American was 
victory or death. I remember well seeing some of 
the thoughtful clip locks of hair from their heads, and 
give them to their comrades, to be sent to loved ones 
at home in ease they fell in battle. The Mexican 
cavalry charged, full of confidence. Not a shot was 
fired from our ranks until they had approached near 
enough to insure a dead aim. Then was heard the 
dreadful crack of the western rifle. The enemy 
melted before the murderous discharo;;e like grass 
before the scythe. Confusion took possession of 
their ranks, and they fled, leaving over two hundred 
dead upon the field. Many of the dead had received 
rifle-balls in their foreheads. But one American was 
killed, the lamented Owens, who was shot while 
charging upon the redoubt." 

During that summer the Indians broke out along 
the trail from Fort Leavenworth to Sante Fe, mur- 
dering the teamsters, robbing and burning the trains; 
and then came the news that the Indians had consoli- 
dated and were to unite seven tribes in an onslauo-ht 
upon the American people along the Arkansas. The 
vhite men, they said, should not have all the fighting, 
robbery, and pillage. The news created much excite- 
ment all through Missouri, and Polk became alarmed. 
He called a meeting of two or three of his cabinet 
oflficers, among them being Benton, and related what 
he had heard, expressing the fear that war would 
become universal, and that he would be severely 
criticised for allowing such a thing to occur. Benton 
then suggested a plan which was afterward carried 
out. 

It was probably about the end of August 1847, 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 37 

when one day while Major Gilpin was lying in bed, 
with a physician in attendance, at his home in Inde- 
pendence, he received a visit from Governor Edwards 
of Missouri, who said: ''I come at the request of the 
president of the United States, to tell you of the 
anxiety he is in, and of his opinion that the war will 
spread and involve the whole of the southwest, and 
that these things would bring censure upon him," 
He went on to say that the president wished to know 
if Major Gilpin would raise an army of volunteers, 
take care of the Indians, and reopen communication 
with our army in northern Mexico. Major Gilpin 
replied: " I have gone through the Mexican war, and 
other labors such as I should not suppose were within 
the bounds of human endurance, and I have not a 
dollar left for my trouble ; what I have received does 
not amount to one third of what I have spent; I have 
seen no notice of my services, and I must decline this 
offer." Said the governor : "If you do not accept this 
mission, some inexperienced person will be put in, 
with no knowledge of what it has taken you twenty 
years to learn, and as a result, Missouri will be lost." 
"Very well, I will accept the mission on three con- 
ditions," replied the major: "first, if my health per- 
mits, and I think I shall soon recover; secondly, that 
I must sign my own orders as to where I shall go 
and what I shall do and how I shall do it, and that I 
shall recruit my men here in Missouri, where I can 
select such as are suited to the desperate service in 
which I am to be engaged and to be held accountable 
for ; and thirdly, that the president will be pleased to 
instruct all the generals who are now commanding 
points of supplies that whatever requisitions I shall 
make upon them must be filled without delay, either 
for supplies or for money." His intention, at once 
formed, was to make a winter campaign against the 
Indians, knowing that if they should unite in the 
spring they would sweep the whole of Missouri. 
Edwards communicated with Mr Polk, and reported 



38 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

that the conditions made were satisfactory to him, 
and that instructions would be issued to that effect. 

As soon as Major Gilpin could leave his bed he 
raised eight companies, though he was obliged to take 
new men, as those who had participated in the 
Mexican war were not yet sufficiently recuperated for 
fresh service. He had a splendid battery of six guns 
from St Louis, two companies of infantry and two 
companies of cavalry, with additional men, attendants, 
wagoners, etc., in all about eight hundred and fifty 
strong. The arms were all shipped to Fort Leaven- 
worth, whither the force was sent, and were the best 
that could be procured. This was called Gilpin's 
battalion, of which he was lieutenant-colonel, there 
being no other field-officer. There was in com- 
mand at Fort Leavenworth Lieutenant-colonel Clif- 
ton Wharton, a distant relative of Colonel Gilpin, 
though the two were not upon the best of terms. 

The supplies had all arrived, provisions in abun- 
dance, wagons and arms, and nothing remained but 
to muster in the force, equip them, and start. Whar- 
ton at first refused to deliver to Colonel Gilpin the 
supplies or arms, saying it was an indiscreet thing to 
send a young boy out on the plains at the beginning 
of winter, into an Indian country. After several dis- 
putes, and being once placed under arrest by Wharton, 
Gilpin wound the matter up by preparing a challenge 
to fight Wharton, who, learning of it, was immediately 
taken ill. Calling Gilpin to him at his room, he turned 
over the supplies and arms to him, and in three days 
the force was equipped, and armed, ready to start; it 
moved forward on the 4th day of October. The sup- 
plies consisted of 200 wagons of provisions, 500 head 
of beef cattle, and fifteen wagons of ammunition. 
When but a short distance out from Fort Leaven- 
worth, a portion of the command mutinied ; but they 
were threatened with instant death, and finally sub- 
mitted. Without further incident the march was 
made to a spot just below the present site of Pueblo, 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 39 

where they went into camp on the Arkansas bottoms, 
reaching there about the middle of November. At- 
tached to the force were two hunters, John H. 
Thatcher, who afterward located himself in California 
and became a prosperous fruit-grower, and a character 
called Big Bill Fallon. 

These men kept the force supplied with fresh meat 
all through the winter, so that it was not necessar}^ to 
kill the beef cattle which had been brought. During 
all this winter Colonel Gilpin was in miserable health, 
owing to a severe cold which he had contracted at 
the beginning of the march; nevertheless he showed 
himself among the men every day. Delegations of 
Indians came frequently to visit the camp, and Gilpin 
sent for the chiefs of the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, 
who were the owners of the country, saying to them : 
" I will send a commissioner with you, and you must 
go up between the forks of the Platte and never leave 
there until I tell you to come." 

Similar warning was sent to the Utes in the moun- 
tains. The winter was passed comfortably, and owdng 
to the abundance of supplies the men were all in good 
humor. The time was occupied in drilling the soldiers, 
which was done thoroughly, and after methods par- 
ticularly adapted to Indian warfare, and all preparatory 
for the spring campaign. The soldiers were expert 
rifle-men, who had been accustomed to barking squir- 
rels in the woods of Missouri, and they were soon 
masters of the necessary tactics. When the time for 
action came they moved along down the foot of the 
mountains, and down into the summer country of the 
Indians. Stopping at a small town in New Mexico, 
called Moro, where he procured a supply of flour, 
Colonel Gilpin pushed on, his object being to ascertain 
the lines by which the Indians were coming to their 
fighting-ground. 

The battle-ground where most of the fighting was 
done was about eighty miles from Foi't Mann, now 
Dodge City, along the southern bank of the Arkansas, 



40 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

which had afforded the savages traps for ambuscades, 
and where white men had been killed for fifty years 
past. For a distance of five or six hundred miles, 
scattered all along the way, trains of twenty and thirty 
wagons were found deserted where the Indians had 
left them on previous raids, the occupants having all 
been massacred. This spot was selected for a depot 
for supplies, for the reason that the formation of the 
sand-hills rendered it difficult to discover any one in 
them. Running south into the Arkansas through 
these hills was a little stream called Crooked creek, 
and up this stream the Indians would come in the 
summer, where they could have water and be sheltered 
from observation. 

During the winter he camped all along the bottoms 
of the Arkansas, where the sweet cottonwoods grew, 
affording plenty of firewood, a space in which to drill, 
and some protection from the elements. He had In- 
dian lodges for the soldiers and corrals for the animals. 
At night they would strew the bottoms of the corrals 
with branches of the sweet cottonwoods, and from 
these branches the horses would strip every vestige 
of the bark. In this way the horses were kept in 
good condition, and the force was enabled to take the 
war-path two months before the Indians, with their 
emaciated animals, could move. During two months 
leisure he had the scouts locate all the various trails 
by which the Indians would come in ; the force was 
then divided into four fighting parties under good 
officers. These four companies were stationed at dif- 
ferent localities, and caught, in detail, the advancing 
tribes as they came in from every direction to join their 
confederates. On one occasion he learned that a party 
of Comanche warriors had left their camp on the 
Cimaron, and were on their way to the fighting-ground 
on the Arkansas. One of the divisions was sent down 
and destroyed the camp, and on the same day another 
division on the Arkansas attacked the party of war- 
riors and drove them off down to their home. This 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 41 

party returned to camp without pursuing the Co- 
raanches, and Colonel Gilpin immediately detailed 
another division to carry out their work. In the in- 
terval, a party of sixty-three Pawnee warriors had 
come upon the trail of the retreating Comanches, 
and had followed it to see what it meant. The white 
men followed on down after the Comanches, and 
soon came up with the Pawnees, who were encamped 
in a grove. A short and sharp battle ensued, and only 
two Indians escaped. 

Nine battles were fought from the middle of July 
to the end of August, and 253 scalps of warriors were 
taken from first to last. 

On the 1st of November, 1848, the force arrived 
at Leavenworth, after a campaign of a little over a 
year. Meanwhile Colonel Gilpin's health instead of 
improving was almost destroyed. He remained at his 
home in Independence until May 1849, when it be- 
came evident to him that he must either die or secure 
the services of a physician who could cure him. 
Thereupon he proceeded to St Louis, where he placed 
himself under the care of Doctor Pope, an eminent 
physician of that city. He arrived there in the midst 
of the cholera season. The day previous to his ar- 
rival 361 deaths had occurred, and wherever he went 
he either saw crape on the door or the occupants of 
the house were attending the funeral of some friend. 
These melancholy surroundings were not conducive to 
his recovery; and learning that the disease was not 
so prevalent elsewhere, he went to Lexington, Ken- 
tucky, where he secured the services of Doctor 
Benjamin Dudley, the founder and head of the Tran- 
sylvania University. Dudley said : " You are the worst 
diseased man but one that I have seen in forty-five 
years of practice. Still, if you will follow my advice 
for a week, I will let you know whether I can cure 
you, or will have to let you die." 

At the end of the week Dudley said he would do 



42 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

the best he could to keep him aUve. His vital func- 
tions had been sadly depleted during his years of 
frontier exposure, and only his iron constitution could 
have carried him through. Under such heroic treat- 
ment as raw calomel three times a week, mixed with 
ipecac and rhubarb, he began slowly to regain his 
health. While at Lexington his residence was in the 
old Phoenix hotel. The sentiment of secession was 
beginning to germinate, and many of the representa- 
tive southern men would consult with him regarding 
the situation. These individuals were very communi- 
cative, and he learned much of their half- formed plans, 
always taking care to get as much as he gave. After 
a hundred days or so had elapsed, he returned to St 
Louis, weighing 100 pounds, but on the road to re- 
covery. St Louis was the wintering point for the 
wealthy planters in that section, and in the winter of 
1849-50 Colonel Gilpin participated as actively as his 
reduced physical condition would permit in the brilliant 
social events of the city. After a time, as he did not 
improve in health materially, lie bethought himself of 
an eminent physician of Philadelphia, Doctor Samuel 
Jackson, a man whom he had known in his younger 
days. His mother was living in Philadelphia -with 
her two daughters, and thither he proceeded and 
placed himself under treatment. He remained in 
Philadelphia during one summer, and then returned 
to his home in Independence. Living on his planta- 
tion was inexpensive, and a portion of his land he laid 
off as an addition to the town, from which he realized 
a small sum of money. In company with five others 
he also laid off Kansas City, which was first called 
Centropolis; but the name which the city now bears 
was determined by the voice of the people, who fell 
into the habit of calling it Kansas Cit}^ He remained 
in that locality until 1861, making occasional trips to 
Washington, Philadelphia,, New York, and St Louis, 
practising his profession at times, and leading rather 
a quiet life. 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 43 

About the first of February of the year last named, 
he made a trip to St Louis, where he met General 
Hunter and General Sumner, who informed him that 
President-elect Lincoln was to start from Springfield 
for Washington upon the third morning thereafter, 
and as the party was small he was anxious to have in 
it some southern man who had voted for him in a slave 
state. Gilpin had cast the only republican vote in 
Jackson county, though he had been unable to pro- 
cure a printed ticket. Accordingly it was agreed that 
he should make one of the company. They joined 
the party at Springfield, which was transported to 
Washington in a small car holding but thirteen per- 
sons. On arriving at Washington he was one of a 
hundred men who slept in the White house as a per- 
sonal guard to the president. Inuiiediately after the 
inauguration he was asked if he would accept an 
appointment as governor of Colorado, as he was con- 
sidered the one indispensable man for the position. 
He immediately signified his willingness to do so. 

At the first cabinet meeting the matter was brought 
up, and Colonel Gilpin was nominated by Blair for the 
position. Cameron being present seconded the motion, 
whereupon the appointment was filled out, and unani- 
mously confirmed by both houses. He immediately 
received his commission from Secretary Seward. The 
time was indeed critical ; the nation was on the ragged 
edge of dissolution, and every member of the adminis- 
tration was worn out with anxiety. Cameron had 
agreed to furnish Governor Gilpin with instructions, 
but finally told him to write them out himself, and 
he, Cameron, would sign them. The day previous to 
his departure from Washington, Governor Gilpin was 
unable to see any cabinet member, and at 12 o'clock 
at night he took up his post in front of the White 
house, where he rightly surmised they were holding a 
consultation. Shortly afterward three persons came 
out and stood" on the porch conversing. Governor 
Gilpin recognized and spoke to them. They were 



44 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

Cameron, Scott, and Lincoln. He informed Mr 
Lincoln that he had his commission in his pocket, 
and was ready to leave for Colorado. He further 
went on to say that it would be necessary for him to 
have money with which to pay expenses that must 
necessarily be incurred at the beginning. Said Mr 
Lincoln: "We have not a cent. I have just nego- 
tiated a loan of fifty millions of dollars from the banks 
of New York, and have called a special session of con- 
gress to meet on the 4th of July, to know if they will 
hang me for treason for this unconstitutional act. If 
you are driven to extremities you must do as I have 
done, issue drafts on your own responsibility." 

''What shall I do for soldiers?" asked Gilpin. 

"If you need them, call them out as we have done, 
command them yourself, send your pay-rolls to me, 
and I will see that they are paid," said Cameron. 
"We will give you the rank of command of briga- 
dier-general." Both Lincoln and Scott acquiesced 
in this arrangement. He then bade them farewell 
and left them. Early in April he arrived in Denver. 
The only other member of the government then in the 
place was Secretary Weld, who had been residing 
here for some time. On alighting from the coach 
he was greeted by a dozen or so of his old acquaint- 
ances, the first comers to Colorado, who welcomed 
him heartily. Waiting upon him later in his room, 
they presented commissions from Medeira and Den- 
ver, governors of Kansas, expressed their faith in Gil- 
pin's ability and firmness, and requested him to renew 
their commissions. Said their spokesman: "If you 
want a legislature, call it and we will fill it for you, 
and we expect to have you on our side." But theirs 
was not the side of loyalty and integrity ; it was not 
Governor Gilpin's side; neverthless, it was deemed 
better to make propositions to neutralize their influ- 
ence than to provoke open hostilities. Therefore he 
said to them: "Gentlemen, I am much obliged for 
your kindness, but there is ample time to consider 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 45 



this matter after I look around a little." The seces- 
sion flag was at the time flying from the Criterion, a 
theatre and gambling-house on Larimer street, be- 
tween 15th and 16th streets. The bill creating 
Colorado had been introduced by Green, a strong 
secessionist in congress, and this was done for the 
purpose of establishing slavery in Colorado, and the 
powers granted were pure despotism. Gilpin was 
present at the time the bill was passed, and it origi- 
nally was to establish Jeflerson Territory, but at Gil- 
pin's suggestion the name was changed to Colorado. 

The newly appointed governor found the secession 
element in full blast; he found also a provincial gov- 
ernment, and a regiment of mounted riflemen, sixty- 
nine strong, organized and furnished with arms. 
Governor Gilpin found the situation a trying one; 
and just how to use the power which had been con- 
ferred upon him could only be determined by careful 
consideration ; but his plans were ultimately formed 
with methodical exactness. x^ 

He despatched a man who was secretary to Russell, 
one of the owners of the stage Une, to Central City, 
where were the most of the men he had to deal with, 
a nest of secessionists, to say that on Thursday, at 
three o'clock, he would be there to address the people. 
This was on Tuesday. Promptly at the hour appointed 
he was on the spot, and delivered a lengthy address 
upon the political and social condition. An Irishman 
named Kavanaugh attempted to reply to the gov- 
ernor's speech, but he had proceeded only a few mo- 
ments when the assemblage took offence at his remarks 
and prevented his continuing. 

Subsequently Governor Gilpin made a tour to the 
principal settlements and mining camps throughout 
the territory, speaking in them, and advocating the 
cause of the union. On this trip the marshal of the 
territory accompanied him for the purpose of taking a 
census. In summing up results after his tour of 
speech-making, he. found that he could rely on the 



46 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

people to stand by the union cause by eight hundred 
and fifty majority. Then he had the secessionists to 
deal with, and he prosecuted this work with vigor and 
^promptitude. He mustered in a tew soldiers, but they 
were without arms, while the secessionists were well 
armed. He managed to gather from the loyal people 
a number of old rifles and muskets, many of them broken 
and useless, and pistols without locks; and with these 
he made a fair showing for a time. The mails had 
been stopped, and provisions were very scarce. The 
secessionists were recruiting constantly, and many en- 
listed with them merely because they were starving. 
All eyes were upon the chief executive, and by a judi- 
cious display of the useless arms he succeeded in keep- 
ing matters quiet for the time. 

The second regiment of United States dragoons had 
been stationed at Fort Crittenden in Utah during the 
Utah war. That being over, the troops started east. 
When they arrived at Laramie, Governor Gilpin made 
known" his situation to Pleasanton, who was in com- 
mand, and he at once placed at the governor's disposal 
eighteen wagons containing 1,800 new Mississippi ri- 
fles, with a large supply of fixed ammunition. By this 
means Colorado was saved. A man named Slough, 
who had been mayor of Denver, was appointed captain 
of the forces, and Logan was appointed first lieutenant. 
Camp Weld was constructed near the city, and here 
the troops were drilled daily. The government was 
thus fully established. The governor made a code of 
laws, which was received by the people with satisfac- 
tion. This was early in December 1861. In procur- 
ing supplies for the one company of infantry, and two 
companies of cavalry which were now mustered in. 
Governor Gilpin was obliged to follow Lincoln's plan of 
raising money for the United States. He drew what 
was necessary from tlie merchants of Denver, giving 
them therefor drafts upon the United States govern- 
ment. At the end of every thirty days a special mes- 



^^'1LLIAM GILPIN. 47 

senger took them to Washington, where payment was.at 
first refused; but finally a government agent was sent 
to Colorado, and all the indebtedness paid. The total 
amount of drafts drawn and paid during the campaign 
was $227,500, which covered all the expenses of the 
government. 

The Texan army under Sibley marched up and took 
possession of Santa Fe, and friends of Governor Gil- 
pin immediately brought the news to Denver, The 
forces here at once pushed on to Fort Union, march- 
ing over Raton pass in the dead of winter. General 
Rene Paul, a first cousin to Governor Gilpin's wife, 
was in command there, and received the Colorado 
troops, re-armed and re-clothed them, all in a single 
da}^ The Texan army, having captured Canby and 
his forces, were at Santa Fe resting and preparing to 
move upon Fort Union, where there were thirty 
thousand stand of arms. In SIouqIi's command was 
a man named Collins, who had guided the American 
troops into Chihuahua, and who was familiar with all 
the mountain trails around Apache canon. With a 
portion of Slough's men he went over a trail, got in 
behind the Texans, and at daylight camped whore 
they had left their wagons, they in the mean time 
having advanced through the caiion. They were at- 
tacked at the mouth of the canon by Slough with 
such vigor that they were forced to retreat. Arriving 
at their camp they found it destroyed, all their sup- 
plies and provisions having been found by Collins, 
whereupon they broke up and scattered. This was 
the battle of Glorietta, 

Toward the latter part of 1862, Governor Gilpin 
received a request from President Lincoln to come to 
Washington, if he could be spared, which was com- 
plied with. Notwithstanding all that Governor Gil- 
pin had done for Colorado, essentially saving the 
country to the union, his enemies were ever actively 
at work circulating false statements and stirring up 
strife, and it was deemed advisable to make a change. 



48 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

Governor Gilpin set out for home on the 8th of Janu- 
ary, 18(52. Soon after his return to Colorado, he re- 
ceived a letter from Seward, saying that the territory 
was in a very dangerous condition, that they did not 
know what would become of it, and requesting him 
to remain as governor until his successor should 
arrive at Denver. He was succeeded by John 
Evans, of Illinois. 

On his return from the Pacific coast in 1844, Gov- 
ernor Gilpin had stopped for rest at Bent's fort, and 
while there he had familiarized himself with the Mexi- 
can system of grants, and especially with the location 
of four large tracts, among them being the Sangre de 
Cristo rancho consisting of a million acres granted to 
Don Carlos Beaubien, and located in San Luis park. 
Returning to this country after the Mexican war, he 
had secured a floating; g^rant of one hundred thousand 
acres, which he succeeded in locating in December 
1862, along the northern boundary of New Mexico 
and the southern boundary of Colorado. While en- 
gaged in perfecting this title, he received a message 
from Don Carlos Beaubien, whom he had met some 
time before, requesting that he might see him at 
Taos on a matter of importance. He immediately 
proceeded to Taos, accompanying the messenger on 
his return. He found Ber.ubien, and held a long con- 
ference with him. Ijeaubien stated that he was now 
sixty-three years of age, had liv--^ nj^on the frontier 
the greater part of his life, and desired t > return with 
his wife to his birthplace, a few miles below Quebec, 
Canada. He stated further that he had n perfect tiole 
to the Sangre de Cristo grant of a million acres, and 
that he desired to dispose of the same. Governor 
Gilpin was familiar with the location and character of 
tlie land, and was desirous of securing possession of it. 
They fixed the price, and he was given the refusal of 
the land until the 4th of March, 1863, while in the 
mean time he would endeavor to raise the requisite 
money from his friends. 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 49 

He returned to Santa Fe, where he concluded 
arrangements which perfected the title to his float, 
which he had located, and then proceeded to Denver' 
arriving here on the 21st day of February. While 
engaged in writing letters to his friends for the pur- 
pose of raising money, Bela M. Hughes arrived and 
proposed to him that he should accompany him to 
Salt Lake City, whither he was going to defend' a 
brother of Ben HoUaday, who was in prison on a 
charge of murder. 

Th Hiking he could return in time to receive answers 
to his correspondence, which would be in about thirty 
days. Governor Gilpifi consented to this proposition 
But mstead of returning direct from Salt Lake City 
he was persuaded to accompany Frank Clark, treas- 
urer of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express between ^alt 
Lake City and San Francisco, to Sacramento. While 
drivmg m the latter place with Clark one day, they 
were thrown from their carriage, and Clark was 
killed, Governor Gilpin being so seriously injured 
that his recovery was despaired of. For forty-seven 
days he lay in bed in Sacramento, requiring assistance 
even to turn over. As he convalesced, he remem- 
bered friends of his in San Francisco, the Donahues. 
When Donahue and a friend of his were on their wav 
to California in an early day, they were both taken ill 
at Independence, and Governor Gilpin had there ren- 
dered them valuable assistance. He now wrote to 
Donahue, stating his position, and requesting a loan 
ot a thousand dollars. The money came by return 
mail, as did also an invitation from Donahue to 
visit him at his home in San Francisco. As soon 
as he was able to be up he accepted the invitation, 
and was elegantly entertained. On leaving San 
-b rancisco by steamer via Panama for New York 
Governor Gilpin received from Donahue a letter to a 
friend m New York, and through his influence he 
secured a loan of thirty thousand dollars from the 
banking house of Duncan Sherman & Co., with which 



50 UOVERNMKNT— COLOEADO. 

to make the payment on the Sangre de Cristo grant. 
Early in March he left for Colorado, bearing with 
him thirty certificates of deposit for a thousand dol- 
lars each. Arriving in Denver he at once started for 
Beaubien's home, accompanied by an acquaintance 
from Denver, and on arriving at the entrance to 
Sangre de Cristo pass, he met an old friend, who in- 
formed him that Beaubien was dead. He inquired 
of his friend if he thought there would be any use of 
l^roceeding farther, and was informed that Beaubien, 
just before his death, had called his wife and children 
around him, and instructed them that the grant be- 
longed to Governor Gilpin, and that it must be trc^ns- 
ferred to him in case he paid the money. Encouraged 
by this report, the governor hurried on and met the 
family. The deeds were drawn up, the money paid 
over and divided among the wife and children of 
Beaubien, and the transaction was complete. The 
summer of 1863 Governor Gilpin spent upon his 
million-acre tract, w^ith five surveyors and seventeen 
prospectors, running out the lines and prospecting for 
minerals. They found thereon a great many gold 
mines. The next winter he went to New York and 
there endeavored to negotiate a sale of the land; but 
while New York capitalists favorably entertained the 
proposition, they did not have sufficient confidence in 
the resources of the country to invest their money in 
the wild lands of the Bocky mountains. He then 
consulted with Morton Fisher, a friend of his who 
had assisted him in securing the loan of thirty thou- 
sand dollars, and they decided that it would be best 
to place the land upon the London market. Finally 
it was decided that Fisher should go to London, while 
Governor Gilpin should return to Colorado and look 
after the property there. 

Fisher put forth every effort to find a sale for the 
property in London, but was unsuccessful. He then 
determined to go to Holland, at the suggestion of an 
American who was practising law in London, and 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 51 

who had been very successful in placing along the 
Rhine the bonds of the eastern division of the Union 
Pacific railway, and see what could be done there. 
They went to Amsterdam and were successful in sell- 
ing 500,000 acres at a dollar an acre. Governor Gilpin 
was at once telegraphed for, and immediately proceeded 
to Amsterdam. Some little delay was caused by the 
breaking out along the Rhine of the war between 
Bismarck and Napoleon, but this was terminated by 
the battle of Sedan, and by the 17th of January, 1871, 
the money was deposited in the bank of England, 
and the sale consummated. The novelty of this 
transaction went abroad among the brokers, and at- 
tracted wide-spread attention. General Palmer ar- 
rived in Amsterdam just after the completion of the 
sale, and succeeded, through the influence of Governor 
Gilpin, in raising $60,000 to assist in constructing the 
Denver and Rio Grande railway, which was to run 
near the grant. 

Thus we have presented before us the varied ex- 
periences of an active and useful man, of one who 
through a long period of public service performed 
many acts of the highest importance to the common- 
wealth, saving the country from bloody wars and 
revolution, and preserving it for a glorious reign of 
peace; and small was his reward. 

The true patriot, instead of enriching himself at 
the cost of his country, too often brings down upon 
his devoted head the enmity of all. But it is the 
province of history to vindicate the just. There were 
times after the expiration of his term of office in Colo- 
rado when the former governor of the territory, he 
who had saved to the nation millions of dollars, had 
not twenty-five cents with which to buy his breakfast ; 
nevertheless, when once his talents were directed 
toward himself, and for the provision of his family, he 
found no great difficulty in making a million or two of 
dollars. 



52 GOVERNMENT- COLORADO. 

Governor Gilpin married on the 12th of February, 
1874, Mrs Juha Pratt Dickerson, of St Louis, widow 
of Captain Dickerson of that city. Mrs Gilpin had 
four children as the result of her first marriage, and 
of the second marriage there were born William 
and Mary, twins, May 12, 1875, and Louis, July 10, 
1877. William and Mary are delightful children in 
every way, filled with the ethereal atmosphere in 
which they were born and have always lived. Mary 
has undoubted musical talent, and possesses a fine 
physique, graceful as Diana or Minerva. She has all 
the ideas, judgment, and caution of a woman of mature 
years; she is gentle, wholly without guile, affectionate, 
and a patient student. She commands every one who 
surrounds her, but in a gentle and sweet manner. 
She is an enigma of goodness. William is very bright 
and studious. He has a fine mechanical mind, full of 
couragfe and vio^or. His father selects for him inter- 
estinpf and instructive books, such as Plutarch's Lives, 
and in studying, he is required to give particular at- 
tention to arithmetic. 

Louis, the youngest child, has all these tastes. He 
is very graceful of movement, impetuous and full of 
energy and self-reliance, gentle, affectionate, and at- 
tentive to words of advice. 

Governor Gilpin has strong domestic tastes, is 
warm-hearted and kind in his family, and exceed- 
ingly devoted to his children, who are his pride and 
joy. His studious habits he continues, delighting in 
generalizations from the immense store of knowledge 
treasured up in his mind. He is specially partial to 
biography, the Life of Agricola by Tacitus, the Life of 
Gromwell by Carlyle, PhttarcJis Lives, Count WalleJistein 
by Shiller, SoutJiey's Nelson, Shakspeares Hamlet, Na- 
poleon's Julius Caesar, Voltaire's Peter the Great, and 
Tliierss Napoleon being among his favorites. 

In 1860 Governor Gilpin published a work entitled 
The Central Gold Region. Three hundred copies were 
printed and distributed to the leading statesmen and 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 53 

scholars of the day. In 1874, when slavery had been 
for some time abolished, and peace restored had began 
to perfect itself, he wrote a kind of peroration as to 
how these and kindred powers of evolution should 
result, in the form of a book entitled 3Iissio')i of the 
North American People, Geographical, Social, and Poli- 
tical; Illustrated by six charts, delineating the Physical 
Architecture and Thermal Laws of all the Continents. 
In it the mountain formation of North America is 
first given'; then the cordillera of the Sierra Madre; 
the plateau of North America ; the Sierra San Juan ; 
the South pass of America ; the great basin of the 
Mississippi; pastoral America; the system of the 
parks; thermal America; a chapter on power; con- 
cluding with three chapters on the North American 
mission. In an appendix are given a few of the more 
conspicuous speeches of Mr Gilpin, on such subjects 
as the Mexican War; the Pacific Railway; and the 
geographical features of the Rocky mountains. The 
maps delineate the mountain system, the thermal 
belts, and the system of parks of North America, and 
a map of the world delineating the contrasted longi- 
tudinal and latitudinal forms of the continents, the iso- 
thermal zodiac and axis of intensit}'- round the world, 
and the line of the Cosmopolitan railway and its longi- 
tudinal feeders. 

The theories which we find elucidated in this work 
may be epitomized as follows: We represent English 
stock that runs back to the time of Alfred, and to the 
time of the formation of the Roman provinces in the 
reign of Claudius. We belong to a people who early 
accepted Christianity. Our ancestors were devotees 
and followers of Cromwell, and held by him until he 
established the commonwealth of England. There 
was reconstructed a Roman empire with christainity, 
education, and science, as bases of progress, an empire 
of 350,000,000 of people with Queen Victoria at the 
head. 

The American people are here on a fallow conti- 



54 (GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

iient, and all their institutions are based upon the 
development of the people: First, democrary, rightly 
understood, reduced to practice — the sovereign power 
placed in the people. We have this continent which 
is able to feed mankind; we have no occasion, like the 
Romans, Greeks, or Spaniards, to make conquests or 
massacres, but we move on, and here are the Euro- 
peans swarming on one side and the Chinese on the 
other; but we shall take care of ourselves, and de- 
velop upon this intermediate and sublime continent a 
master nation, and do our work, and if the outside 
world pleases to attack us, uniting as they did against 
Napoleon, they could not even land on our continent; 
and in the mean time we are giving a successful ex- 
ample to Ireland and France, and to the socialists 
and nihilists. We are now by progressive experi- 
ments in possession of all the elements of political and 
social science. 

Under the leadership of Washington and Franklin, 
of Jefferson, Jackson, and like men, the American 
people have brought democracy to be rightly under- 
stood and reduced to practice. First they have abso- 
lute sovereignty; the people decide everything; we 
have 11,500,000 votes cast in one day, where each 
man expresses his opinion of tlie government. The 
first thing the people did, the first use they made of 
this relegation of sovereignty which it took three 
generations standing under fire to protect, has been 
to establish universal, perpetual, and compulsory edu- 
cation ; and we are now becoming matured in our 
declaration of independence, the federal constitution, 
and the constitutions of the states. We have a 
peculiar system of balance in choosing the presiden- 
tial electors, which was the best that could be in- 
vented by the men who did it; and the people, 
understanding this, are adapting themselves to the 
enlargement and extension of society and its wants. 
Every thirty years a new generation comes in, and if 
there is anything not suited to the times, they elimi- 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 



nate it; and if there is anything newly invented, they 
put it into their constitution as a discovery, whether 
it be of political or social science. 

We have all kinds of population, the pioneer popu- 
lation making farms, the manufacturing population 
producing for us, and the laboring population. We 
have a broad belt of temperate zone extending from 
sea to sea. In Europe there are monarchies and bar- 
barisms which are perpetually fighting and slaughter- 
ing one another. Here our genius takes another turn. 
We are a complete nation, living in harmony; we 
have tried a great many things that never were tried 
before. Our mission is to plant empire in the wilder- 
ness. When we cross the Atlantic and come here 
our world opens to the way, our arena of effort 
widens. We have this great concave continent, with 
the modifications of the temperate zone, the seini- 
tropical zone, and the arctic zone. In the semi-tropics 
we can cultivate the semi-tropical fruits, oranges, ba- 
nanas, etc., and rice and sugar, and cotton for our sum- 
mer wear and for the summer clothing of the world ; 
and then above that comes the region of Indian corn and 
pork; the broader belt of wheat, cattle, and horses; 
and wool for the winter clothing of the world; hides 
for the leather of the world; also wine, liquors, and 
tobacco; and above that the belt of oats and hay; and 
then we have barley. These belts are all united by the 
longitudal rivers ; and now we are putting railroads on 
all their banks. Then belts of temperate warmth are 
thus echeloned across our continent, from east to west 
like the streaks of the rainbow. Various atmospheres 
envelope us, the cloudy, or aqueous, covering about 
four fifths of the earth's surface; then at a height of 
four or five thousand feet, the aerial atmosphere, to 
which the heavier clouds cannot attain. Here is the 
only ethereal or continental climate that the human 
race can profitably enter. The Cosmopolitan railway 
across Bering strait will connect the systems of 
America with the systems of Asia and Europe; that 



56 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

this is possible you have only to ascertain the facts 
regarding the physical features of that region. In- 
deed, we are now in the very midst of this new de- 
parture, we are now upon the plane of this higher 
civilization, and yet all the while advancing and 
expanding. 

We have abolished aristocrats and plebeians, and 
have established patrician democracy, and this has 
been done by universal suffrage and perpetual educa- 
tion, which are the elements that expand and preserve 
it, until we find what is wrong and weed it out, and 
what is right and congeal it. Literature preserves 
and creates lives; while the bad dies out of all we 
have from antiquity, the good only has lived. Evo- 
lution proves this. 

America is now getting her continental dimen- 
sions, and the people who control the North Amer- 
ican island are forming themselves into a pioneer 
army which plants empire in the wilderness, not by 
slaughter, as did Csesar and Alexander and the Span- 
iards; it takes the nations of the world which they 
slaughtered and peoples the wilderness under a policy 
of peace and industry. 

In regard to the plateau of North America, the 
author says that it is little understood, even by those 
who travel over it, extending from Tehuantepec to 
the polar sea, with a genial altitude of 6,000 feet, the 
mountains on either side being 12,000 feet high; it 
has an area of 11,000,000 square miles, and is almost 
everywhere easy of access. It has seven great basins, 
namely, the valley of Mexico, the Bolsom de Mapimi, 
the Rio Bravo del Norte, Colorado, Great Salt Lake, 
the Columbia, and the basin of Fraser river. The 
climates are dry, altitude and aridity tempering the 
heat toward the south, and the cold toward the north. 
The soils are fertile, both for agricultural and pasto- 
ral purposes. 

Governor Gilpin did much to advance the idea of a 
Pacific railway, and at a time when the prospect was 



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ISC 1'tO i?ri 120 no 100 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 57 

thought by many to be chimerical, giving it the aid 
of both tongue and pen. In a speech dehvered at 
Wakerusa, now Lawrence, Kansas, and again at In- 
dependence, he says: ''We perceive in the formation 
of the American continent a subhme simpHcity, an 
economy of arrangement singular to itself, and the 
reverse of what distinguishes the rest of the world. 
The continents of the old world resemble a bowl 
placed bottom upward, which scatters everything 
poured upon it, whilst northern America, right side 
up, receives and gathers toward its center whatever 
falls within its rim. In geography the antithesis of 
the old world, in society it will be the reverse. North 
America will rapidly attain to a population equalling 
that of the rest of the world combined, forming a 
single people identical in manners, language, and im- 
pulse, preserving the same civihzation, imbued with 
the same opinions, and having the same political lib- 
erties." 

In a speech delivered at St Louis on the 8th of 
January, 1850, on the then existing Indian policy. 
Colonel Gilpin said: "There is observable an ar- 
rangement of our people, in general, in these propor- 
tions : Agriculturists in the middle, southern, and 
central states, producers of articles for foreign ex- 
port, are seventy per cent of the whole population of 
the union; agriculturists of the commercial states, 
producing food for the immediate consumption of 
their commercial cities, twenty per cent; commerce 
proper, which also includes manufactures, ten per 
cent." After the lecture a number of resolutions 
were offered and passed. 

In London, in 1870, was pubHshed Notes on Col- 
orado; And its inscription in the Physical Geography 
of the North American Continent, by William Gilpin, 
Governor of the Territory of Colorado. It is a 16 mo 
brochure of 52 pages, and its contents were spoken 
before a laroe audience, under the auspices of the 



58 GOVERNMENT— COLOHADO. 

British Association of Science, at Liverpool, on the 
26th of September of that year. 

It was one of Mr Gilpin's ablest eftbrts. It opens 
in this wise: '* A glance of the eye thrown across the 
North American continent, accompanying the course 
of the sun from ocean to ocean, reveals an extraordi- 
nary landscape. It displays immense forces character- 
ized by order, activity, and progress. The structure 
of nature, the marching of a vast population, the 
creations of the people, individually and combined, 
are seen in infinite varieties of form and gigantic di- 
mensions. Farms, cities, states, public works, define 
themselves, flash into form, accumulate, combine, and 
harmonize. The pioneer army perpetually advances, 
reconnoitres, strikes to the front. Empire plants itself 
upon the trails. Agitation, creative energy, industry, 
throb throuofhout and animate this crowdino- delusfe. 
Conclusive occupation, solidity, permanence, and a 
stern discipline attend every movement and illustrate 
every camp. The American realizes that progress is 
God. He clearly recognizes and accepts the conti- 
nental mission of his country and his people. His 
faith is impregnably fortified by this vision of power, 
unity, and forward motion." 

In another place it says: "It fell to my lot, during 
the years from 1840 to 1845, alone and in extreme 
youth, to seek and chalk out, in the immense solitudes 
filling the space from Missouri to China, the lines of 
this dazzling empire of which we now hold the oracular 
crown, to have stood by its cradle, to be the witness 
of its miraculous growth." 

Thus in perusing the life of William Gilpin, the 
philosophic reader cannot fail to have noticed under- 
lying principles governing all ; strong currents of 
original and practical thought sweeping before them 
old-time dogmas and superstitions. His grea+ mind, 
like Humboldt's, absorbing and retaining all knowl- 
edge, in his elucidations thereof he seems like one 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 59 



perched above the world, and taking in at one glance 
all lands and all times. 

He sees the several continents surrounded by the 
several oceans, the continents of Europe and Asia 
being convex in their configurati<Hi, thus isolating 
peoples and products, and engendering diversity of 
interests and general distraction, while the continent 
of America is concave in its structure, tending to 
homogeneity and harmonious unity. 

He sees the mountain and river systems of the old 
world running with the latitudinal lines, thus restrict- 
ing animals and plants each to their climatic zone, and 
preventing that free social and commercial intercourse 
which tends to the highest development; while in the 
new world the mountain and river systems run longi- 
tudinally across isothermal lines, thus breaking the 
barriers of configurations and climates, and throwing 
together the various productions of earth and man. 

He sees extending along the summit of the great 
American Andes a system of plateaux and jmrks, 
high in ethereal air, where men or gods may dwell and 
achieve their ultimate endeavor. Along this line ex= 
tends the natural course for a continental railway con- 
necting the railway systems of America with those of 
Europe, thus bringing the whole world together by 
continuous iron track with only the ferriage of the 
strait of Bering. 

He sees the power of population trailing in from the 
old world, and overspreading the new, whose elevation 
of intellect and extension of capabilities with all the 
collateral comforts and blessings attendant thereunto 
it is the mission of the American people to accomplish. 
The pioneer army are already here at work, absorbing 
and assimilating to our advanced ideas and institutions 
the effete civilizations of Asia and Europe. 

He sees the great heart of American society palpi- 
tating with new fires impelled by a universal instinct, 
inspiring discipline in action and rectitude of purpose. 

He sees a divine light issuing from the obscurity 



CO GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

of the past, shining upon our country and our people, 
illuminating alike the recesses of nature and the in- 
tellect of man. 

He sees that in the first three centuries now rolling 
over our race upon this continent, from nothing we 
have become one hundred millions of people. From 
nothing we have grown to be in agriculture, commerce, 
and native ability the first among existing nations; and 
this is but the beginning. We have yet vast areas of 
the continent to subdue, and to perfect the industries 
and institutions of the parts whose occupation is 
begun. 

Such is the mission of the North American people, 
to animate their own future millions and cheer them 
upward, to establish new order in human affairs, and 
regenerate superannuated nations, to confirm the des- 
tiny of the human race, to perfect science, to emblazon 
history with the conquest of peace, and shed a new 
and resplendent glory on mankind. 

Physically and intellectually Governor Gilpin pre- 
sents a striking figure. Full six feet in height, weigh- 
ing IGO pounds, graceful in his movement, courteous 
in manner, fine Greek head well set on good square 
shoulders, big brain pan, dark brown hair turned 
grayish, dark hazel eyes still bright and penetrating, 
nervous-sanguine temperament, and a decided military 
bearing, he carries us back to the old school of thor- 
ough-bred soldiers and statesmen of continental times. 
And if ancestry, birth, and breeding, if ability, activ- 
ity, and integrity throughout the course of a long and 
checkered life, count for aught, then shall the name of 
William Gilpin forever be entitled to proud distinction. 

He has a strong and retentive memory, a brilliant 
imagination, and an invigorating and elastic mind 
replete with learning. Both manners and intellect 
are redundant, even perhaps in some respects to 
eccentricity; but clear, and for the most part cool, 
collected, and sensible and practical. He has ever 



WILLIAM GILPIN. 61 

been a great student, no less of nature than of books. 
It was during his travels in the mountains, with such 
books in his knapsack as the Cosmos of Humboldt, the 
Vegetable Chemisiry of Liebig, Tacitus, Shakspeare, and 
De Tocqueville's Democracy in America, that the facts 
re^-arding their anatomy came to his mind, configura- 
tions, soils, climates, and the evolution of the race 
being almost continually in his thoughts. 

^ In reading the published life of Governor Gilpin's 
ancestor, of three hundred years ago, Bernard, the 
Apostle of the North, I was struck by the similarity 
of many of their salient characteristics. " His person 
was tall and slender," the book goes on to say, " in 
the ornament of which he was at no pains. He had 
a peculiar aversion to the fopperies of dress. In his 
diet he was very temperate, ratlier abstemious. His 
parts were very 'good. His imagination, memory, 
and judgment were lively, retentive, and solid. His 
acquirements were as considerable. By an unwearied 
application he had amassed a great store of knowl- 
edge, and was ignorant of no part of learning at that 
time in esteem. His temper was actively warm; and 
in his youth we meet with instances of his giving way 
to passion ; but he soon got more command of him- 
self, and at length entirely corrected that infirmity. 
His disposition was serious, yet among his particular 
friends he was commonly cheerful, sometimes facetious. 
His general behavior was very affable. Never did 
virtue sit with greater ease on any one, had less 
moroseness, or could mix more agreeably with what- 
ever was innocent in common life. He had a most 
extraordinary skill in the art of managing a fortune. 
Extravagance with him was another name for injustice. 
Amidst all his business he found leisure to look into his 
affairs, well knowing that frugality is the support of 
charity. His intimacies were but few. His sincerity 
was such as became his other virtues." Thus are the 
traits of a good man who lived three centuries back 
found so vividly reproduced in a descendant of to-day. 



62 GOVERNMENT— COLORADO. 

Governor Gilpin is a good scholar; his learning is 
broad and deep, his fund of information limitless. He 
is a striking speaker; with nervous energy and ges- 
ticulation he drives home his arguments, while his 
generalizations are most brilliant. Like Montaigne, 
knowing himself, the world, and books, he talks with 
much shrewdness, dealing throughout in the positive 
degree, and uses liberally sarcasm and invective. 

" Intellect," says Plato, " is king of heaven and 
earth." The world of nature is at the disposition of 
mind ; philosophy penetrates all surfaces, while in- 
spiration sweeps them. Theories may be defective, 
but mountains and oceans remain. Nature gives the 
law ; intellect perceives it. 



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